High-Pressure Seal Element With Flushing Flow Against Carbon Deposits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sealing elements in high-pressure applications face challenges with oil carbon formation and deposition, leading to reduced service life due to thermal overloading and lubricant penetration, especially in elastomer materials, which affects their sealing ability and elasticity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flow generator on the high-pressure side of the sealing element to create a flushing flow that accelerates fluid towards the dynamic sealing zone, enhancing lubrication, cooling, and actively removing carbon deposits through a combination of groove-shaped flow elements and a deformable connecting section with material weakenings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements are used in high-pressure applications with elastomer materials, then sealing ability is improved, but oil carbon formation and deposition occur leading to reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful carbon deposits from the sealing zone by introducing a flushing flow that actively removes oil carbon before it can accumulate on the sealing element. The flow generator creates a directed fluid flow that sweeps carbon particles away from the sealing contact area, preventing the degradation that would otherwise occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flushing flow as an intermediary medium between the high-pressure lubricating oil and the sealing element. This intermediary flow serves to cool the sealing zone, lubricate the contact surface, and actively remove carbon deposits, thereby protecting the sealing element from thermal overloading and carbon accumulation.
2Ease of operation
If lubricating oil is used in the sealing zone, then lubrication is improved, but thermal overloading occurs leading to oil carbon formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous cooling and lubrication of the sealing zone by maintaining a constant flushing flow through the flow generator. This continuous action prevents thermal buildup by constantly replacing heated oil with cooler fluid, thereby preventing the thermal overloading that leads to carbon formation while maintaining effective lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by introducing a controlled fluid flow through the sealing zone. The flushing flow acts as a hydraulic cooling system that continuously removes heat from the lubrication contact area, preventing thermal overloading while maintaining the lubricating film necessary for easy operation.
3Productivity
If sealing elements operate at high speeds and pressures, then productivity is improved, but friction and heat generation increase reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic flushing flow that adapts to the operating conditions. The flow generator creates a fluid flow that dynamically responds to the high-speed operation, providing continuous cooling and lubrication that prevents friction-induced degradation. This dynamic cooling system enables sustained high-speed operation without compromising service life.
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 solution effectively counteracts oil carbon formation and deposition, improving the sealing element's service life by maintaining lubrication, cooling, and preventing carbon accumulation, even at high speeds and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The flow element generates a pressure difference in the fluid. This pressure difference accelerates the fluid either directly towards the dynamic sealing zone of the sealing arrangement
Implementation Method 2
the fluid is caused to flow around the axis of rotation of the sealing surface (so-called Taylor-Couette flow) due to its friction on the sealing surface and its inherent viscosity
Implementation Method 3
the fluid is caused to flow around the axis of rotation of the sealing surface (so-called Taylor-Couette flow) due to its friction on the sealing surface and its inherent viscosity
Implementation Method 4
the fluid accelerated on the machine part that has the sealing surface also pushes outwards at higher rotational speeds due to the centrifugal force. This creates so-called Taylor vortices
Implementation Method 5
for cooling, lubricating and flushing the dynamic sealing zone
Implementation Method 6
for cooling, lubricating and flushing the dynamic sealing zone
Implementation Method 7
for removing carbon deposits that have already formed in the area of the sealing zone or for preventing such deposits from forming
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a seal arrangement (10) comprising: - a first and a second machine part (12, 14) which are arranged spaced apart from one another with the formation of a sealing gap (18) and can be moved relative to one another about a movement axis (16); - a seal element (20) with a base section (24) which is arranged such that it is held on a seal holding structure, in particular a holding groove (26) of one of the two machine parts (12, 14), and having a sealing head (28) which bears in a dynamically sealing manner by way of a sealing section (30) against a sealing surface (32) of the respective other machine part (12, 14), in order to seal a high pressure side H of the sealing gap (18) with respect to a low pressure side N, which high pressure side H can be pressurized by way of a fluid, wherein the seal element (20) is provided on the high pressure side with at least one flow element (66, 68, 92, 94), by way of which a fluid flow is brought about in the case of a relative movement of the two machine parts (12, 14), in such a way that the sealing head (28) is flowed onto by the fluid on the high pressure side in the region of the sealing section (30) of said sealing head (28). Moreover, the invention relates to a seal element (20) for a seal arrangement of this type.