Sealing Ring Arrangement for Gas Turbine Nozzle Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Substantial leaks at the interfaces between turbine nozzles and combustion chambers in gas turbine engines cause irregularities in temperature and pressure, reducing the usable life of turbine components.
Innovation Solution
A sealing ring arrangement held by a flange extending from the combustor liner is used to seal the interface between the turbine nozzle and the combustor liner, with the sealing rings being urged against the nozzle to create a sealed relationship, accommodating temperature fluctuations through breaks in the rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid seal is used at the turbine nozzle-combustor liner interface, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to temperature fluctuations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the sealing ring flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to temperature fluctuations. The flexible sealing ring can deform and adjust its position to maintain effective sealing across varying thermal conditions, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and adaptability to temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing material properties that allow the sealing ring to change its physical state in response to temperature variations. The flexible sealing ring material is selected to maintain sealing capability across a range of temperatures, enabling the seal to adapt to thermal expansion and contraction of adjacent components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible seal is used to accommodate temperature fluctuations, then adaptability is improved, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly applies this principle by using a flexible sealing ring made of elastomeric or polymeric material. This flexible element can deform to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the turbine nozzle and combustor liner while maintaining continuous contact and effective sealing, thus achieving both adaptability and sealing effectiveness simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system utilizes composite material properties by combining the flexible sealing ring with the rigid turbine nozzle and combustor liner structures. The flexible ring material is specifically selected to provide both compliance for thermal adaptation and sufficient sealing pressure to maintain effectiveness under operating conditions.
3Reliability
If the sealing ring is made continuous, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to thermal expansion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the sealing ring into discrete segments rather than using a continuous ring. These segmented flexible sealing rings can independently deform and adjust to thermal expansion and contraction of adjacent components while maintaining sealing contact, thus accommodating thermal changes without compromising sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented design enables dynamic adjustment of each segment independently in response to thermal variations. The flexible segments can move and deform to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining continuous sealing contact, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and thermal adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method of sealing an interface within a gas turbine engine includes holding a sealing ring arrangement relative to a turbine nozzle using a flange extending from a combustor liner. The method further includes urging the sealing ring arrangement toward a sealed relationship with the turbine nozzle.