Turbomachine Seal Carrier Stiffening Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seal carriers for turbomachines, particularly industrial and aircraft gas turbines, exhibit low stiffness in the circumferential direction due to the inherent lack of stiffness in honeycomb seal members, leading to increased running clearance and vulnerability to damage during installation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating stiffening elements on the carrier base that extend along the circumferential direction and partially cover the seal members, enhancing stiffness and protection, with preferred configurations including multiple stiffening elements and diamond-patterned web structures for increased stability, and manufacturing through additive processes like selective laser melting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If honeycomb seal members are used, then sealing function is provided, but stiffness in circumferential direction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the seal member with the carrier base by integrally forming them as a single component. This combination allows the carrier base to provide circumferential stiffness while the seal member provides sealing function, resolving the contradiction between sealing capability and structural rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure where the carrier base and seal member are formed as an integrated unit with different functional zones. The carrier base portion provides structural support and stiffness, while the seal member portion provides sealing functionality, achieving both requirements simultaneously.
2Reliability
If seal members are exposed, then sealing contact is enabled, but vulnerability to damage during installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier base is designed to cover and protect the seal member during installation and operation. This preliminary protective structure prevents damage to the seal member before it is properly positioned and functional, reducing installation risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier base provides localized protection to the seal member in specific regions where damage risk is highest during installation, while maintaining full sealing contact capability where needed. This selective coverage approach balances protection and functionality.
3Reliability
If running clearance is reduced, then sealing efficiency is improved, but tolerance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is segmented into multiple cavities arranged in a honeycomb pattern. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be distributed across multiple contact points, improving overall sealing efficiency while reducing the tolerance sensitivity of individual contact zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the seal member by creating a honeycomb structure with multiple cavities. This parameter change increases the effective sealing contact area and improves sealing efficiency, while the modular nature of the cavities helps manage tolerance accumulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A seal carrier for a turbomachine, in particular a gas turbine, including a carrier base and at least one seal member, the at least one seal member being connected to the carrier base, and the at least one seal member being formed by a plurality of cavities arranged adjacent one another, in particular in a regular fashion, in the circumferential direction and the axial direction, the cavities extending from the carrier base in the radial direction, is provided. At least one stiffening element on the carrier base, the stiffening element extending along the circumferential direction and at least partially covering the at least one seal member at one of its axial end regions is provided.