Turbine Engine Seal Support with Tangential Spring Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal support systems in gas turbine engines fail to effectively maintain a positive radial clearance between seal members and the rotor shaft under varying operating conditions, leading to potential wear and damage during low delta pressure conditions and transients.
Innovation Solution
A seal member support system utilizing a tangential spring-based retraction mechanism that holds seal members in a retracted position radially away from the rotor shaft during low delta pressure conditions, allowing them to move inwardly to seal the radial gap as pressure increases, and return to the retracted position when pressure decreases, reducing rotor scrub and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal members are kept in constant contact with the rotor shaft to ensure sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wear and damage increase during low delta pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The seal support assembly incorporates a spring mechanism that dynamically adjusts the radial position of seal members based on operating conditions. During low delta pressure conditions, the spring forces the seal members into a retracted position away from the rotor shaft, minimizing wear. During high delta pressure conditions, the seal members are allowed to contact the rotor shaft to maintain effective sealing. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining sealing effectiveness and reducing wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-based retraction mechanism applies a preliminary counteracting force to prevent harmful contact between seal members and the rotor shaft during low delta pressure conditions. By proactively retracting the seal members before wear can occur, the system prevents damage in advance while maintaining sealing capability when needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If seal members are retracted during low delta pressure conditions, then wear is reduced, but sealing effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between retracted and contacted positions based on real-time pressure conditions. The spring mechanism automatically adjusts seal member position: retracted during low delta pressure to reduce wear, and contacted during high delta pressure to ensure sealing effectiveness. This conditional behavior resolves the apparent contradiction by making sealing effectiveness context-dependent rather than constant.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal support assembly changes the positional parameter of seal members based on delta pressure conditions. By varying the radial position parameter in response to pressure changes, the system optimizes both wear reduction and sealing effectiveness for different operating conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a spring-based retraction mechanism is added to maintain radial clearance, then wear and damage are minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-based retraction mechanism is a self-regulating system that automatically adjusts seal member position based on inherent pressure differentials without requiring external control systems. The spring force naturally balances against pressure forces to maintain optimal clearance, providing wear protection through passive, self-service operation rather than complex active control.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring acts as an intermediary mechanical element that translates pressure conditions into appropriate seal member positioning. This simple mechanical mediator provides intelligent wear protection without requiring complex electronics or control systems, resolving the contradiction between wear minimization and system complexity.
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 system maintains a consistent radial clearance between seal members and the rotor shaft, minimizing wear and damage by adapting to pressure changes, thereby enhancing the durability and efficiency of the turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arrangement having a spring extension extending between the carrier and the seal segment to counter a pressure on an outer pressurization surface of a lip of the seal segment
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal segments supported at least in part by the carrier, the plurality of seal segments having a first seal segment and a second seal segment, the first and second seal segments each having a seal face forming a fluid bearing with the rotor; and a seal support assembly comprising a tangential spring extension extending between the first seal segment and the second seal segment for biasing the first seal segment away from the second seal segment in the circumferential direction.