Tortuous Seal Elements for Rotor Blade–Disk Joint Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotor assemblies in gas turbine engines experience fluid leakage through mechanical joints between rotor blades and rotor disks, which reduces performance.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly is introduced, comprising elongated seal elements and blade plates that are configured to fit within grooves formed by the rotor disk and rotor blade attachments, following a tortuous trajectory to seal gaps and reduce fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a mechanical joint (e.g., dovetail interface) is used to mount rotor blades to the rotor disk, then the structural connection and mechanical strength are improved, but fluid leakage through the joint increases
Solution Approach 1:
A seal element is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotor blade attachment and the rotor disk. The seal element fills the gap at the interface of the mechanical joint, preventing fluid leakage while allowing the mechanical connection to maintain its structural strength. This mediator resolves the contradiction by adding a specialized component that addresses the leakage issue without compromising the mechanical joint's integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element is designed as a flexible component that can deform to conform to the interface geometry between the rotor blade attachment and the rotor disk. This flexibility allows the seal element to effectively block fluid leakage paths while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and operational deformations, thus reducing fluid loss without affecting the mechanical connection strength.
2Reliability
If the seal element follows a tortuous trajectory to seal the gap, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element follows a tortuous (curved) trajectory rather than a straight path. This curved configuration allows the seal element to conform to the complex three-dimensional interface geometry between the rotor blade attachment and the rotor disk, improving sealing effectiveness by contacting all relevant surfaces. The curvature enables the seal to adapt to the joint's shape without requiring multiple separate sealing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element with tortuous trajectory serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals against fluid leakage, accommodates manufacturing tolerances, and adapts to the complex interface geometry. This multi-functionality is achieved through the single integrated tortuous path design, which replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate sealing components, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotor assembly (20) is provided for a piece of rotational equipment. This rotor assembly (20) includes a rotor disk (22), a rotor blade (24) and a seal element (108). The rotor disk (22) is configured to rotate about a rotational axis (26). The rotor disk (22) extends axially along the rotational axis (26) to a rotor disk end face (50). The rotor blade (24) includes an attachment (64). The attachment (64) attaches the rotor blade (24) to the rotor disk (22). The seal element (108) is configured to seal a gap between the rotor disk (22) and the attachment (64). The seal element (108) has a longitudinal centerline (116) that extends along an interface between the rotor disk (22) and the attachment (64) at the rotor disk end face (50).