Segmented Inner Ring Shoulders for Turbine Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inner rings in fluid flow machines, particularly in axial gas turbines, face challenges in easy assembly and disassembly for maintenance and cost-effective manufacturing, as well as inefficiencies due to thermal deformations leading to sealing gaps and leaks.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part inner ring design featuring segmented fixing and seal carrier rings with radially offset shoulders that prevent movement beyond a separation plane, ensuring secure assembly and optimized bending stiffness to reduce thermal deformations and sealing issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inner ring is designed as a multi-part segmented structure, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner ring is divided into multiple segments (first inner ring segment, second inner ring segment, third inner ring segment) that can be assembled and disassembled independently. Each segment has specific features (shoulders, grooves, keys) that enable straightforward connection and separation, improving maintenance accessibility while maintaining structural integrity through the segmented design.
2Reliability
If the inner ring segments are secured with shoulders abutting each other, then reliability of sealing is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulders (first shoulder, second shoulder, third shoulder) are pre-positioned on each segment during manufacturing to establish precise abutting relationships. This preliminary positioning ensures that when segments are assembled, the shoulders automatically align and secure the segments relative to each other, providing reliable sealing without requiring extremely tight tolerances during final assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner ring segments feature asymmetric shouldering arrangements where each segment has shoulders at different positions and orientations. This asymmetric design creates a unique abutting configuration that ensures proper segment orientation and secure positioning, enhancing sealing reliability while accommodating reasonable manufacturing variations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inner ring is designed as a single piece, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but ease of repair and maintenance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner ring is segmented into multiple replaceable components (first inner ring segment, second inner ring segment, third inner ring segment) that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows specific worn or damaged segments to be replaced without replacing the entire inner ring, significantly reducing maintenance costs and improving repair efficiency while keeping manufacturing costs reasonable through modular production.
Data Source
AI summary
An inner ring of a fluid flow machine includes fixing rings and seal carriers split into at least two fixing ring segments and into at least two seal carrier segments, respectively. The fixing ring segments and the seal carrier segments are arranged with the respective end faces facing each other. A first fixing ring segment has a first ring segment shoulder and a second fixing ring segment has an offset second ring segment shoulder. A first seal carrier segment has a first carrier segment shoulder, and a second seal carrier segment has a second carrier segment shoulder, which is offset with respect to the first carrier segment shoulder. In a separation plane of the inner ring, the first carrier segment shoulder abuts the second ring segment shoulder at the end face. Also in the separation plane, the second carrier segment shoulder abuts the first ring segment shoulder at the end face.