Sliding Ring Seal Channels for Low Leakage and Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed sliding ring seals with porous materials face challenges in maintaining low leakage and optimal friction due to increased friction moments and reduced lubrication, especially at speeds above 8,000 rpm, leading to suboptimal performance in e-mobility applications.
Innovation Solution
The sealing ring design features a single-stream channel and an outlet channel on the sealing surface, angled and separated to ensure medium flow from the pressure area to the leakage area is redirected back to the pressure area, minimizing leakage and optimizing friction by creating a hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic pressure effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If flow channels are incorporated into the sealing surface to improve medium supply and reduce friction, then friction behavior improves, but leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing surface is segmented into distinct functional zones: an inflow channel for medium supply, an outflow channel for leakage collection, and a return channel for medium redirection. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally, preventing the medium from taking a direct path to the leakage side while ensuring adequate lubrication in the sealing gap.
Solution Approach 2:
The outflow channel acts as an intermediary structure between the inflow channel and the leakage side. It intercepts the medium flow, redirects it through the return channel, and prevents direct leakage, thereby mediating between the need for medium supply and the need to prevent leakage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-directional structures are used in the sealing surface to allow bidirectional rotation, then versatility improves, but leakage and friction performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The channel structures are designed with asymmetric geometry and directional orientation. The inflow channel, outflow channel, and return channel are positioned and shaped to create a preferred flow direction, optimizing medium supply and leakage prevention for a specific rotation direction while maintaining bidirectional rotation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring structure integrates multiple functions into a single component: the inflow channel supplies medium, the outflow channel collects potential leakage, and the return channel redirects medium back to the sealing gap. This multi-functional design allows the seal to maintain optimal performance across different operating conditions while supporting bidirectional rotation.
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 design achieves a compromise of minimal leakage and minimal friction, effectively addressing the limitations of existing high-speed sealing technologies by ensuring sufficient medium flow into the sealing gap while preventing excessive leakage.
Implementation Method 1
creating a hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic pressure effect
Implementation Method 2
creating a hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic pressure effect
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The sealing ring of a mechanical seal has a sealing surface in which at least one conveying structure (18) is provided. It has at least one inlet channel (20) and at least one outlet channel (24), wherein the inlet channel (20) is connected to a medium side to be sealed, which is separated from a leakage side (23) by the sealing ring. In order to achieve optimal friction behavior and minimal leakage with the sealing ring and the mechanical seal, the outlet channel (24) is not connected to the medium side to be sealed or to the leakage side (23), and the inlet channel (20) is not connected to the leakage side (23).