Stepped Slinger Seal for Turbopump Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbopumps used in liquid propellant rocket engines face challenges in minimizing fluid leakage due to differential pressures between propellant sections, which increases the mass of fluid that needs to be carried, necessitating an effective vapor seal mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A turbopump with a stepped slinger seal system that includes a rotatable disk with paddles, where the first and second sections of the slinger have different radial heights and axial orientations, forming a fluid passage with a housing, creating a vapor barrier to reduce leakage by vaporizing fluid and increasing enthalpy, thereby limiting fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a high pressure vapor seal is used to limit leakage, then fluid leakage is reduced, but the mass of fluid that needs to be carried increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slinger is divided into multiple sections (first section, second section, axial section) with different radial heights, creating a stepped configuration that segments the fluid sealing function into multiple zones for more effective leakage control
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the slinger have different radial heights tailored to specific functional requirements - the first section has greater radial height for primary sealing, the second section has reduced radial height for secondary sealing, and the axial section connects them, creating locally optimized sealing quality
2Loss of substance
If a stepped slinger with multiple sections is used to create vapor barrier, then fluid leakage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional sections (first section, second section, axial section) are merged into a single integrated stepped slinger component that rotates as one unit, combining multiple sealing functions into a single device rather than requiring separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The stepped slinger performs multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both a sealing mechanism and a fluid vaporization device, while also serving as a structural support element, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function
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 stepped slinger seal system effectively reduces fluid leakage by creating a high-pressure vapor barrier, minimizing the mass of fluid carried and enhancing the efficiency of propellant pressurization in turbopumps.
Implementation Method 1
creating a vapor barrier to reduce leakage by vaporizing fluid and increasing enthalpy, thereby limiting fluid leakage
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A turbopump includes a slinger that has a first section and a second section. The first and second sections are disposed substantially radially in a fluid circuit. The second section is downstream of, and radially inward of, the first section. A housing is located downstream and adjacent to the first section of the slinger and radially outward of the second section of the slinger.