Transition Duct Side Seal Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbine engines with annular combustors, the transition ducts experience wear and reduced sealing effectiveness due to thermo-mechanical stresses and high temperatures, leading to material thinning and reduced lifespan of side seals.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of side seals with cooling features and resilient designs, such as 3D woven meshes, biasing structures, and articulating segments, that accommodate thermo-mechanical stresses and provide controlled cooling air flow to reduce wear and enhance sealing efficiency between transition ducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If side seals are used to seal the spaces between adjacent transition ducts, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the side seals experience wear and material thinning due to thermo-mechanical stresses and high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The side seal is divided into multiple articulating segments that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each segment to accommodate thermo-mechanical stresses without causing wear to the entire seal assembly, thereby extending service life while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The side seal transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with articulating segments that can move and adjust to thermal and mechanical stresses. This dynamic capability reduces wear by allowing the seal to adapt to dimensional changes in the transition ducts during operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the side seal is made resilient to accommodate thermo-mechanical stresses, then the seal maintains sealing effectiveness under stress, but the resilient material is subject to wear and heat degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The side seal utilizes composite construction combining resilient materials with cooling features. The resilient material accommodates thermo-mechanical stresses while the integrated cooling features reduce heat degradation, creating a composite structure that maintains both adaptability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling features in the side seal convert the harmful effect of heat into a beneficial cooling action. By incorporating cooling passages that allow air flow through the seal, the design uses the existing thermal environment to cool the resilient material, reducing wear and extending service life.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If cooling features are added to the side seal to reduce wear, then the seal lifespan is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling features are integrated into the existing side seal structure rather than being separate components. This multi-functional design allows the same structural elements to serve both sealing and cooling functions, extending service life without proportionally increasing device 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 side seals effectively mitigate wear and thermo-mechanical stresses, extending the lifespan of transition ducts and maintaining effective sealing, thereby improving the operational reliability and efficiency of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
The side seal resiliently engages the first transition side groove and the second transition side groove while accommodating thermo-mechanical stress
Implementation Method 2
The side seal includes a plurality of cooling features lengthwise disposed in the side seal that permit passing a restricted amount of cooling air from the high pressure area through the side seal to cool the side seal
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine has transition ducts. Between two adjacent transition ducts there are transition side grooves that extend in a radial direction. A side seal is radially inserted into the transition side grooves. The side seal resiliently engages the transition side grooves to accommodate a thermo-mechanical stress that develops between the two adjacent transition ducts.