Segmented Sealing Ring Overlap for Stator Gap Locking and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing rings for gas turbines fail to provide effective circumferential locking and minimize leakage between stator units while ensuring easy assembly.
Innovation Solution
A sealing ring design comprising four sectors with overlapping contact and angled sections, allowing for secure circumferential locking and minimal leakage, facilitated by specific sector arrangements and elastic deformation to accommodate thermal expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flat segmented steel bands are used to seal the gap between stator units, then the sealing function is provided, but circumferential locking is insufficient and leakage occurs between successive parts
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is divided into multiple segmented parts that can be assembled separately and locked together circumferentially. Each segment contains sealing elements that contact the stator units, while the segments are connected through overlapping regions with locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows for both effective sealing and circumferential locking without requiring a single complex piece.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring segments are designed with overlapping regions where one segment is partially inserted into or nested with the adjacent segment. This nesting arrangement provides both structural integrity for circumferential locking and creates sealed chambers that prevent gas leakage between segments while maintaining a compact overall structure.
2Reliability
If overlapping sections are added to enable circumferential locking, then locking capability is improved, but assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring segments are pre-assembled into pairs or small groups with the overlapping locking sections already engaged before installation into the turbine. This preliminary assembly reduces the complexity during final installation, as pre-assembled units can be installed as complete modules rather than individual segments, significantly reducing assembly time and complexity while maintaining the circumferential locking function.
3Reliability
If the sealing ring is divided into multiple parts to reduce leakage, then sealing performance improves, but the number of components and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sealing functions are combined into each segment of the sealing ring. Each segment contains sealing elements for contacting stator units, overlapping regions for circumferential locking with adjacent segments, and integrated sealing lips that prevent gas passage. By merging these functions into unified segments rather than separate components, the design achieves effective leakage prevention while minimizing the total number of discrete parts and simplifying assembly.
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
Enables reliable sealing with reduced leakage and easy assembly by ensuring secure overlap and alignment of contact sections, while accommodating thermal expansion.
Implementation Method 1
elastic deformation to accommodate thermal expansion
Implementation Method 2
To prevent the ingress of hot gas from the gas turbine's flow path or the impermissible escape of cooling air through the gap, it is generally necessary to provide a sealing ring in the gap
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a sealing ring (01) for sealing off a gap (19), surrounding a rotor shaft (02), between a rear and a front stator unit (14, 15). According to the invention, the sealing ring (01) comprises an upper left-hand sealing part (21) and a lower right-hand sealing part (24) that is opposite the latter via the rotor shaft (02), and an upper right-hand sealing part (23) and a lower left-hand sealing part (26) that is opposite the latter via the rotor shaft (02). Each of the four sealing parts (21, 23, 24, 26) has a circumferentially extending sealing portion (31), a contact portion (32) arranged at the first end, an angle portion (33) arranged at the opposite end and an overlapping portion (34) adjacent to the angle portion (33), wherein in each case two contact portions and two overlapping portions overlap respective adjacent sealing parts (21-26).