PVD-Coated Sealing Ring for Gas Turbine Groove Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sealing ring designs in gas turbine engines allow metal-to-metal contact, leading to adhesion and surface degradation, which compromises the sealing function and reduces the service life of the sealing rings.
Innovation Solution
The sealing ring features radial and side surfaces coated with a physical vapour deposited (PVD) coating, comprising a passivation layer that acts as a chemical barrier to prevent adhesion and surface degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal to metal contact is allowed between sealing ring surfaces and groove surfaces, then the sealing ring can maintain structural integrity and sealing function, but adhesion and surface degradation occur reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
A PVD coating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the sealing ring metal surface and the groove surface. This coating acts as a mediator that prevents direct metal-to-metal contact while maintaining the sealing function, thereby eliminating adhesion and surface degradation issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring surface is transformed from a single metal material to a composite structure consisting of the metal substrate combined with a PVD coating layer. This composite material structure provides both the mechanical strength of the metal and the protective properties of the coating, preventing adhesion and degradation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If PVD coating is applied to radial and side surfaces, then adhesion and surface degradation are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The PVD coating is applied selectively only to the radial and side surfaces of the sealing ring that are in contact with the groove, rather than coating the entire component. This localized application approach maintains the protective function while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The PVD coating effectively reduces adhesion and surface degradation, enhancing the sealing function and extending the service life of the sealing rings by preventing chemical reactions between the sealing ring and the groove surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of each radial surface configured for abutting against the corresponding first or second groove surface and at least a portion of each side surface configured for abutting against the corresponding third groove surface are coated with a physical vapour deposited (PVD) coating
Implementation Method 2
the passivation layer comprises at least one component configured for passivating the corresponding surface of the sealing ring
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A sealing ring (10) for a gas turbine engine (20), the sealing ring (10) having an annular shape and comprising: - two radial surfaces (11, 12), namely an inner radial surface (11) and an outer radial surface (12); and - two side surfaces (13, 14) extending between the inner radial surface (11) and the outer radial surface (12); wherein one of the radial surfaces (11, 12) is configured for abutting against a corresponding first groove surface (22) or second groove surface (23) of a circumferential groove (21) arranged in the gas turbine engine (20); wherein one of the side surfaces (13 ,14) is configured for abutting against a corresponding third groove surface (24, 25) of the circumferential groove (21) arranged in the gas turbine engine (20); wherein: - at least a portion of each radial surface (11, 12) configured for abutting against the corresponding first (22) or second (23) groove surface, and - at least a portion of each side surface (13, 14) configured for abutting against the corresponding third groove surface (24, 25), are coated with a physical vapour deposited (PVD) coating (15); wherein the PVD coating (15) comprises a passivation layer (15.2), and wherein the passivation layer (15.2) comprises at least one component configured for passivating the corresponding surface (11, 12, 13, 14) of the sealing ring (10).