Turbomachine Seal Damping Mechanism for Abrupt Gap Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachine engine seals face challenges in maintaining desired spacing between non-contacting components to prevent wear and unintentional contact, particularly due to rapid changes in operational conditions and forces, leading to potential damage from abrupt seal gap fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a damping mechanism, such as a spring element and damping element, within the seal assembly to gradually adjust the seal gap width, utilizing a spring chamber and foil or wave spring dampers to control the relative motion between the sealing element and the runner, thereby preventing sudden contact and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal gap control mechanisms are used to maintain desired spacing between non-contacting seal components, then wear is prevented and component reliability is improved, but the system becomes more complex and sensitive to rapid operational changes
Solution Approach 1:
A damper assembly is incorporated into the seal assembly to provide beforehand cushioning against rapid changes in seal gap width. The damper assembly includes a damper spring and damper fluid that work together to cushion abrupt movements of the sealing element, preventing unintentional contact between seal components before it can occur. This prior cushioning mechanism protects the seal components from wear and damage caused by sudden operational changes without requiring complex active control systems.
2Reliability
If the seal assembly responds rapidly to operational changes to maintain seal gap, then seal performance is maintained, but abrupt seal gap fluctuations cause component contact and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The damper assembly provides beforehand cushioning by incorporating a damper spring and damper fluid that work together to cushion abrupt movements of the sealing element. The damper spring provides elastic cushioning while the damper fluid provides viscous damping, together preventing unintentional contact between seal components before it can occur. This resolves the contradiction by protecting against wear while maintaining seal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sealing element and the housing. It mediates the interaction between the sealing element and housing by absorbing and dissipating energy from rapid movements, preventing direct harmful contact while maintaining the necessary seal gap control. The damper spring and damper fluid together form this intermediary cushioning system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a spring element is used to control seal gap width, then seal gap stability is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to rapid force changes and operational conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The damper assembly acts as an intermediary that filters and moderates the transmission of forces from the spring element to the sealing element. The damper spring and damper fluid together provide a cushioning effect that stabilizes the seal gap while reducing sensitivity to rapid force changes and operational condition variations, allowing the system to adapt smoothly to changing conditions.
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 damping mechanism effectively mitigates abrupt changes in seal gap width, reducing the risk of component contact and wear, enhancing the seal assembly's performance and lifecycle by maintaining a stable seal gap, even under varying operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element disposed within the spring chamber, the spring element allowing movement of the sealing element relative to the runner and to control a width of the seal gap
Implementation Method 2
a damping element... the damping element slowing movement of the sealing element relative to the runner and to the fixed housing
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a spring chamber and foil or wave spring dampers to control the relative motion between the sealing element and the runner
Implementation Method 4
utilizing a spring chamber and foil or wave spring dampers to control the relative motion between the sealing element and the runner
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to seal assemblies for a turbomachine. The seal assemblies include stationary and rotating components and at least one interface between the stationary and rotating components. In some examples, seal assembly includes a runner coupled to a rotating shaft and a sealing element coupled to a stationary engine housing. The seal assembly can also include a spring element located between the sealing element and the stationary engine housing, which allows the relative position between the runner and the sealing element to be adjusted while the turbomachine engine is in operation. Some seal assemblies include damping elements positioned between the sealing element and the fixed engine housing to slow the motion of the sealing element relative to the runner to reduce the risk of inadvertent contact between the runner and the sealing element.