Segmented Abradable Ring Assembly for Turbine Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current turbine engines face inefficiencies due to leakage at the interface between blade wipers and abradable material rings, necessitating improved sealing mechanisms and assembly methods to enhance turbine performance.
Innovation Solution
A turbine design featuring a ring made of abradable material formed by contiguous annular sectors, which are mounted axially around the blades and casing, providing a labyrinth seal with enhanced pressure drop through radially external wipers engaged in grooves, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly by axial movement of sectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a continuous ring of abradable material is used to form the labyrinth seal, then the sealing efficacy is improved, but the assembly complexity and difficulty of installation are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous ring of abradable material is divided into multiple discrete sectors that can be independently assembled. Each sector contains a portion of the labyrinth seal structure with grooves and wipers, allowing the seal to be constructed in modular segments rather than as a single continuous component.
Solution Approach 2:
The abradable material is pre-formed into discrete sectors with integrated grooves and wiper structures before assembly. This preliminary preparation of individual sectors enables easier handling and installation compared to assembling a complete continuous ring, while still achieving the desired sealing performance when the sectors are positioned together.
2Reliability
If a large radial dimension wiper is used to increase pressure drop, then the sealing performance is improved, but the assembly difficulty is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The large radial dimension wiper structure is divided across multiple discrete sectors rather than requiring a single continuous component. This segmentation allows the wiper assembly to be constructed from manageable pieces that can be independently positioned and secured within the turbine casing.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly approach transitions from radial construction to axial engagement. Sectors are assembled axially within the turbine casing, allowing the large radial wiper structures to be positioned and secured through axial movement rather than requiring complex radial manipulation during assembly.
3Strength
If the turbine components are assembled in place, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the assembly time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sectors are pre-assembled into a complete ring structure outside the turbine casing before the final installation. This preliminary assembly of the abradable material ring with all sectors in position allows for quality control and proper alignment to be established before the component is installed as a complete assembly, reducing the time required for in-place assembly while maintaining structural integrity through the bolting process.
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 configuration significantly improves the sealing efficacy and simplifies the assembly process, reducing leakage and enhancing the overall efficiency of the turbine engine by allowing for precise axial engagement of wipers and sectors, thus addressing the inefficiencies in existing labyrinth seal technologies.
Implementation Method 1
sealing means extending radially around the blades and comprising a ring made from abradable material, the radially external ends of the first wipers being engaged in a groove in said ring made from abradable material so as to form a seal of the labyrinth type
Implementation Method 2
said seal having a large pressure drop, substantially greater than in the case of the prior art
Implementation Method 3
cooperating with a ring of abradable material so as to form sealing means of the labyrinth seal type
Data Source
AI summary
A method of assembling a turbine for a turbine engine that includes mounting annular sectors around the blades to form an abradable ring that includes a groove in a sector of the annular sectors. The method also includes engaging a first wiper of a particular blade of the blades with the groove of the sector. The method further includes axially engaging an assembly comprising the blades and the annular sectors in a casing of a turbine, so that fixing members of the annular sectors cooperate with flanges of the casing to fix the annular sectors in the casing, around the blades. The fixing members comprise at least one upstream fixing member fixed on a radially internal facing side of an upstream end of the annular sectors and at least one downstream fixing member arranged at a downstream end of the annular sectors.