Rotary Valve Seal Assembly Using Vortex Leakage Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary valves in turbine systems experience leakage issues due to the lack of effective sealing between the valve member and the housing, leading to reduced turbine efficiency, especially when exhaust gas bypasses the turbine wheel during non-bypass operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact seal assembly utilizing concavities in the valve member and housing to generate vortices, which impede fluid flow and reduce leakage, allowing for greater freedom of movement between components without the need for contact seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact seals are used to prevent leakage between moving components, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but friction and wear increase resulting in reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact seal system with a fluid dynamic system. Instead of using physical sealing surfaces that contact each other, the invention uses a controlled fluid jet to create a seal through fluid pressure and vortex formation. This substitutes mechanical friction-based sealing with fluid-based sealing, eliminating wear and friction while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using a fluid jet that creates pressure zones and vortices to prevent fluid leakage. The fluid dynamic pressure and the resulting vortex structure act as a non-contact barrier, utilizing pneumatic/hydraulic effects rather than mechanical contact to achieve sealing.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If non-contact seals are used to avoid wear, then friction is reduced, but fluid leakage increases reducing sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes fluid-induced vortex formation which creates a dynamic, rotating flow pattern. This vortex structure acts as a dynamic barrier that actively prevents leakage while maintaining non-contact operation. The rotational fluid motion creates low-pressure regions that help seal the interface without mechanical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the fluid flow by controlling jet velocity, pressure, and angle to optimize vortex formation. By adjusting these fluid dynamic parameters, the system achieves effective sealing through controlled turbulence and vortex structures rather than relying on mechanical contact or static barriers.
3Reliability
If labyrinth seals are used to create tortuous leakage paths, then fluid leakage is reduced, but device complexity increases due to overlapping components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from complex mechanical structures and implements it through a simplified fluid jet system. Instead of using multiple overlapping components to create tortuous paths, the invention uses a single fluid jet source that generates vortices to prevent leakage, significantly reducing structural complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
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 seal assembly effectively minimizes fluid leakage, maintaining turbine efficiency by creating turbulence that restricts flow, thus enhancing the performance of rotary valves in turbine systems.
Implementation Method 1
the concavity is configured to generate vortices in a fluid flowing in the passage
Implementation Method 2
create turbulence in the fluid flowing through the seal assembly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
There is provide a seal assembly (2) comprising: a first component (8) and a second component (10) spaced apart from the first component so as to define a passage (12) for the transfer of fluid from an inlet (14) of the seal assembly to an outlet (16) of the seal assembly, wherein the first component comprises a concavity (18) at least partially defining the passage, and wherein no part of the second component extends into the portion of the passage bounded by the concavity.