Replaceable Self-Locking Sealing Assembly for Gas Turbine Rotor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine sealing members, such as metal sheet-type and fastening-type sealing members, fail to effectively dampen vibrations and shocks, and are difficult to replace without disassembling turbine disks, leading to stress concentration and defects due to thermal expansion.

Innovation Solution

A rotor with a replaceable self-locking sealing assembly that includes a sealing slot, head slot, connection slot, and fastening section, allowing for easy installation and removal without disassembling internal components, and a fastening system that avoids direct bolt penetration to prevent stress concentration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal sheet-type sealing member is used, then the sealing function is provided, but the sealing member cannot effectively dampen vibrations and shocks due to thickness and rigidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing functionVSAvoidvibrations and shocks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is constructed as a composite structure combining a metal sheet base layer with a rubber layer. The metal sheet provides sealing function while the rubber layer dampens vibrations and shocks, resolving the contradiction between maintaining sealing reliability and reducing harmful vibrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the sealing member is directly fastened by a bolt, then the sealing member is securely fixed, but the fastening portion is subjected to excessive stress concentration or defects due to thermal expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing stabilityVSAvoidfastening portion strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A recess portion is provided in the sealing member that receives the bolt head, acting as an intermediary structure. This recess distributes the stress from the bolt over a larger area and accommodates thermal expansion, preventing stress concentration and defects in the fastening portion while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the sealing member is installed between adjacent turbine disks, then the sealing function is achieved, but the sealing member cannot be removed and replaced unless the turbine disks are disassembled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing functionVSAvoidreplacement difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is designed as a separable component with a head portion and a body portion. The head portion can be accessed through openings in the turbine disks, allowing the sealing member to be removed and replaced without disassembling the turbine disks themselves, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If a fastening-type sealing member is used, then the sealing member is securely fixed, but the structure is complex and requires direct fastening components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing stabilityVSAvoidfastening structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening function is integrated into the sealing member itself through the recess portion that receives the bolt head. This merging of the sealing member and fastening structure eliminates the need for separate fastening components, reducing device complexity while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 sealing assembly effectively seals the space between turbine disks, dampens vibrations and shocks, and allows for easy replacement without disassembling the turbine, preventing stress concentration and defects in the fastening portion.

Implementation Method 1

a metal sheet-type sealing member and a fastening-type sealing member. The metal sheet-type sealing member has a problem in that the sealing member cannot effectively dampen vibrations and shocks occurring during the rotation of the turbine disk

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a sealing head disposed on another end of the main body to be seated on an inner wall of the head slot to restrict the main body from being moved

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11661890B2Rotor including replaceable self-locking sealing assembly, turbine, and gas turbine including the same

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 DOOSAN HEAVY IND & CONSTR CO LTD

AI summary

A rotor, a turbine, and a gas turbine including the same are provided. The rotor includes a pair of disks rotating about an imaginary central axis and arranged parallel to each other in an axial direction, a replaceable self-locking sealing assembly interposed between the pair of disks, and a fastening section disposed on the sealing assembly to fasten the sealing assembly to the disks. The disk includes a sealing slot disposed on an opposite surface to another adjacent disk and a head slot disposed outward from the sealing slot with respect to a radial direction of the to disk. The sealing assembly includes a main body with one end inserted into the sealing slot through the head slot from an outside of the disk and a sealing head disposed on another end of the main body to be seated on an inner wall of the head slot to restrict the main body from being moved.