Vane Seal Spring Damping for Heat and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vane seal systems in gas turbine engines face challenges in effectively managing damping to reduce vibrations and heat accumulation, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage from aerodynamic forces.
Innovation Solution
A vane seal system with a seal member spanning across pockets on non-rotatable vane segments, utilizing a spring portion for frictional contact to dissipate kinetic energy and minimize height, thereby achieving damping through frictional contact and reducing heat collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vane seal system is used to reduce vibrations, then damping effect is improved, but heat accumulation increases due to frictional contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the seal member by incorporating a spring portion that provides frictional contact. By adjusting the spring constant and contact pressure parameters, the system achieves optimal damping while controlling heat generation through parameter optimization rather than increasing friction alone
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member incorporates a spring portion that dynamically adjusts the frictional contact force based on vibration amplitude. During high vibration conditions, the spring compresses to increase contact pressure and damping effect. During low vibration conditions, the spring extends to reduce contact pressure and minimize heat accumulation, creating a dynamic balance between damping and thermal management
2Device complexity
If the seal member height is minimized, then device complexity is reduced, but damping capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear seal member to one incorporating a spring portion, adding a dimensional element of elastic deformation. This spring dimension allows the seal member to achieve damping capability through vertical compression and expansion of the spring, enabling effective damping within a minimized overall height constraint
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member employs a spring portion that functions as a flexible element within the constrained height. This flexible spring structure provides the necessary compliance and frictional contact for damping while maintaining a compact, minimized height profile that reduces device complexity
3Reliability
If frictional contact is increased to dissipate kinetic energy, then damping is improved, but wear and potential damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful frictional wear into a beneficial damping mechanism. The spring portion is designed to provide controlled frictional contact that dissipates kinetic energy as heat through elastic deformation, transforming what would be wear-inducing sliding friction into beneficial viscous-like damping through the spring's elastic hysteresis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the material parameters and contact parameters of the spring portion to achieve damping through elastic deformation rather than plastic wear. By selecting appropriate spring constants, material properties, and contact pressures, the system achieves effective kinetic energy dissipation while minimizing wear and potential damage through parameter optimization
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 solution effectively dampens vibrations and reduces heat accumulation, enhancing the efficiency and durability of the vane seal system by dissipating kinetic energy and minimizing height, thus addressing the inefficiencies and potential damage from aerodynamic forces.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a spring portion for frictional contact to dissipate kinetic energy
Implementation Method 2
effectively dampens vibrations and reduces heat accumulation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed is a seal for a vane seal system, the seal comprising a seal member with a seal element and a spring portion affixed to the seal member, and a method related thereto for damping relative movement between a first pocket and a second pocket.