Rotating Seal Impingement Cooling for Hot Contact Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling channels in rotating seals of gas turbine engines are limited by machining processes, restricting their ability to effectively dissipate heat generated at contact surfaces between rotating and stationary components, leading to inefficient heat removal and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
An impingement cooling approach is implemented, featuring a rotating seal with entrance and exit channels and a plenum that extends circumferentially, where cooling fluid impinges against the hot side of the plenum, enhancing thermal interaction and heat removal through turbulent flow and film formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling channels are used in rotating seals, then the structure is simple and manufacturable, but the heat removal capability is insufficient due to limited channel locations and conventional machining constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of cooling channels by introducing compound angle configurations and positioning them at optimal locations relative to hot spots. The cooling channels are designed with specific angles and orientations that maximize heat removal efficiency while still being manufacturable through conventional processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces compound angle cooling channels that extend in multiple dimensions rather than simple linear paths. The channels are positioned at compound angles relative to the seal surface, allowing them to reach hot spots from multiple directional dimensions and improve thermal interaction
2Temperature
If cooling channels are positioned close to hot spots, then heat removal efficiency improves, but the locations are limited by conventional machining processes that cannot form channels where oil can fully achieve desired cooling effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the angular parameters and positional coordinates of cooling channels to achieve maximum cooling effectiveness at hot spot locations. By carefully selecting channel angles, depths, and orientations, the design achieves superior cooling performance within the constraints of conventional machining capabilities
3Temperature
If oil is introduced into cooling channels as coolant, then heat is removed from the rotating seal, but the cooling effect is limited by the inability of oil to fully reach desired locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized cooling zones by positioning cooling channels specifically at hot spot locations. The channels are designed to deliver coolant precisely where thermal loads are highest, creating locally optimized cooling effectiveness rather than uniform cooling throughout the seal structure
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels are pre-positioned and pre-configured during manufacturing to optimize coolant flow paths before operation. The channel geometry and orientation are established in advance to ensure that oil coolant follows optimal trajectories for heat removal from critical hot spot regions
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
This approach significantly improves heat removal capabilities at hot zones, reducing wear and enhancing the performance and longevity of gas turbine engine components.
Implementation Method 1
fluid exiting the one or more entrance channels and entering the plenum impinges against the hot side
Implementation Method 2
enhancing thermal interaction and heat removal through turbulent flow and film formation
Implementation Method 3
enhancing thermal interaction and heat removal through turbulent flow and film formation
Implementation Method 4
thermal interaction and heat removal
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating seal rotatable about a rotational axis is provided. The rotating seal includes a body having a first surface disposable to face the rotational axis and a second surface disposable to contact with a stationary element. The body defines a cooling channel including one or more entrance channels respectively extending from the first surface, one or more exit channels and a plenum. The plenum extends circumferentially through the body and has a hot side adjacent to the second surface. The plenum is fluidly interposed between the one or more entrance channels and the one or more exit channels whereby fluid exiting the one or more entrance channels and entering the plenum impinges against the hot side.