Wing Seal for Turbine Extraction Cavity Thermal Growth

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Solution Overview

Problem

In gas turbine engines with double wall compressor configurations, the movement of floating members due to thermal growth complicates sealing between extraction cavities, making it difficult to achieve effective sealing and quantify leakage at the interface between high and low pressure extraction cavities, thereby affecting compressor and overall system performance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A wing seal is positioned within the interface between extraction cavities, conforming to the shapes of the floating and static members and extending circumferentially to fill the gap, with various configurations such as a continuous ring or segmented design, made from corrosion-resistant materials to minimize leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If floating members are used to accommodate thermal growth, then adaptability to thermal expansion is improved, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal growth accommodationVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs floating members with flexible sealing surfaces that can deform and conform to the interface geometry between extraction cavities. These flexible sealing elements maintain contact and sealing effectiveness even as the floating member moves radially and axially to accommodate thermal growth of the compressor casing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing system is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the floating members to move freely in radial and axial directions while maintaining sealing contact. The sealing effectiveness is maintained through continuous adaptation to changing geometric relationships caused by thermal expansion, rather than relying on fixed geometric clearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If floating members move radially and axially, then adaptability to thermal expansion is improved, but leakage quantification becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion accommodationVSAvoidleakage quantification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces seal leakage measurement systems that act as intermediaries between the floating member interface and the measurement instrumentation. These systems include pressure sensors, flow meters, or differential pressure devices positioned in the extraction cavity to indirectly measure leakage rates despite the moving sealing interface, converting complex mechanical sealing behavior into measurable physical parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8388313B2Extraction cavity wing seal

Publication Date: 2013.03.05 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

A pressure containing casing for a turbine engine. The pressure containing casing may include a first extraction cavity, a second extraction cavity, an interface between the first extraction cavity and the second extraction cavity, and a wing seal positioned within the interface.