Segmented Turbomachine Sealing Ring for Low-Leakage Rotor Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing rings in turbomachines, such as gas turbines, suffer from leaks at the interfaces between segments, leading to reduced efficiency due to unwanted airflow.
Innovation Solution
A sealing ring design for a turbomachine rotor featuring segments with recesses and projections that interlock, creating high flow resistance for leakage flows and maintaining efficiency even as the turbomachine components expand or contract.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If segmented sealing rings are used to seal leaks in the turbomachine, then the sealing effectiveness is improved and efficiency is enhanced, but leaks can form in the region where two segments abut one another, leading to reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is divided into multiple segments that can move relative to one another, allowing the sealing ring to adapt to changing cross-sections of the turbomachine caused by heating and/or cooling. Each segment is equipped with sealing surfaces that can abut against adjacent segments to prevent leaks at the interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring segments are designed to be movable relative to one another in the axial direction, enabling the sealing structure to dynamically adapt to thermal expansion and contraction of the turbomachine components during operation.
2Strength
If a one-piece ring-shaped cover element is used, then the structural integrity is improved, but the adaptability to changing cross-sections caused by heating and cooling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element is divided into multiple plate-shaped sealing elements that can be individually attached to the turbine disk. These segments can move relative to one another in the axial direction, allowing the cover element to adapt to changing cross-sections caused by thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining structural integrity through the segmented design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If segments are designed to be displaceable relative to one another to adapt to thermal changes, then the adaptability is improved, but leakage flows can occur at the segment interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is segmented into multiple movable segments, each equipped with sealing surfaces that can abut against adjacent segments. This segmentation allows thermal adaptation while the sealing surfaces prevent leakage at the interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing surfaces are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent segments. These sealing surfaces abut against one another to create effective seals at the segment interfaces, preventing leakage flows while allowing the segments to remain displaceable for thermal adaptation.
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 interlocking design significantly reduces leakage flows by increasing flow resistance, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the turbomachine.
Implementation Method 1
the first projection is arranged in the second recess, the second projection is arranged in the first recess and the first flank of the first projection and the first flank of the second projection are designed, upon a first displacement of the first segment away from the second segment, to abut one another and thus to limit the first displacement
Implementation Method 2
A leakage flow that passes the sealing ring in an axial direction with respect to the sealing ring must flow in the circumferential direction, and in so doing must flow around both the first projection and the second projection. As a result, the leakage flow experiences a high flow resistance, which means that the mass flow of the leakage flow is low.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing ring for a turbomachine, having at least a first and a second segment. The first segment has, in a region of a first longitudinal end, a first recess and a first projection having a first flank which delimits the first recess. The second segment has, in a region of a second longitudinal end, a second recess and a second projection having a first flank which flank delimits the second recess. The first and second segments have a coupling state in which they are movable relative to one another. The first projection is arranged in the second recess, the second projection is arranged in the first recess, and the first flank of the first projection and the first flank of the second projection are designed to abut one another upon a first movement of the first segment away from the second segment and to limit the first movement.