Dynamic Turbine Seal Pad Gap Control for Leakage and Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional turbine apparatuses face efficiency deterioration and damage due to their sealing mechanisms, which either suffer from constant friction or inadequate sealing as the gap between the seal pad and rotor varies during operation.
Innovation Solution
A turbine apparatus with a sealing mechanism that includes a reciprocable seal pad and a spring system, where the seal pad is brought into contact with the rotor when stopped and spaced apart by a predetermined gap during rotation, utilizing engraved grooves and auxiliary seal pads to prevent fluid leakage and reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a contacting seal is used where the seal pad is always in contact with the rotor, then sealing function is improved, but friction increases causing damage and efficiency reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The seal pad is designed to dynamically change its position relative to the rotor based on operating conditions. During operation, the seal pad is spaced apart from the rotor to minimize friction, while during shutdown it contacts the rotor to maintain sealing. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining sealing function and reducing friction damage.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a film riding pressure activated leaf seal is used with predetermined gap, then friction is reduced, but sealing function deteriorates when gap is excessively increased
Solution Approach 1:
The gap between the seal pad and rotor is dynamically adjusted based on operating parameters. During operation, a predetermined gap is maintained to reduce friction. During shutdown, the gap is reduced to zero (contacting) to ensure sealing function. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between reducing friction and maintaining sealing effectiveness across different operating states.
3Productivity
If seal pad is spaced apart from rotor during operation, then friction and efficiency reduction are minimized, but sealing function is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism operates in periodic cycles: during operation, the seal pad is spaced from the rotor to maintain high efficiency; during shutdown, it contacts the rotor to ensure sealing. This periodic switching between spaced and contacting states resolves the contradiction between maintaining operating efficiency and ensuring sealing function at different operational phases.
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 configuration minimizes efficiency reduction and prevents damage by maintaining a consistent gap between the seal pad and rotor, enhancing the sealing function and reducing friction and fluid leakage across the entire operation range.
Implementation Method 1
a spring applying an elastic force to the seal pad in a direction in which the seal pad approaches the rotor
Implementation Method 2
the seal pad is separated from the rotor during the stop of the turbine apparatus, and the seal pad is moved towards the rotor, with a predetermined gap with the rotor, due to hydrostatic load during the operation of the turbine apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a turbine apparatus. The turbine apparatus includes stator, a rotor rotatably installed in the stator, and a sealing mechanism provided to prevent a working fluid from leaking between the stator and the rotor. The sealing mechanism is configured such that when the rotor is stopped, the sealing mechanism is brought into contact with the rotor, and when the rotor is rotated, the sealing mechanism is formed to be spaced from the rotor by a predetermined gap.