Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates in general to sealing systems and, more particularly, to sealing systems for sealing gaps within a single turbine component or between two or more turbine components.
In the art of turbine design, the need often exists to seal connections between adjacent turbine components, such as turbine blades, in order to separate fluids and to maintain a turbine's efficiency. For instance, it is desirable to separate pressurized air from hot gases in specific locations in a turbine assembly. A common location for separating these gases is at the intersection between adjacent turbine blades proximate to a turbine housing to which the turbine blades are connected.
Typically, baffles, or “key seals,” are implemented, as shown in
An alternative baffle has been developed and is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,600 to Mori et al. The baffle system disclosed in Mori comprises a baffle formed from metallic belt-like members having a cross-section with two ends, whereby each end includes two sealing members that are biased away from each other and wrap circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of a turbine rotor assembly. This configuration gives the baffle a spring-like effect when the sealing members are squeezed together. The cross-section of this belt is oriented generally orthogonal to the axial direction. Thus, Mori discloses a baffle formed from a belt having improved sealing qualities. However, Mori discloses sealing the opening only in the radial direction.
A typical turbine engine usable in power plant applications has numerous openings with diameters between about ⅛ of an inch and {fraction (1/10)} of an inch. Equivalent openings in turbines usable in an aircraft applications are even smaller. Sealing such small openings with relatively inflexible seals, such as the seals disclosed in Mori, is challenging. Furthermore, manufacturing complex seals with dimensions corresponding to such small openings is difficult at least because of the increased difficulty encountered in manufacturing complex aspects of such seals. For instance, creating spot welds, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3(a) of Mori and identified as element 13, and small slits, as shown in FIG. 3(b) and identified as element 16, in seals having such small dimensions is difficult and costly.
Thus, a need exists for a relatively simple turbine seal capable of securely sealing an opening between turbine components in the radial direction, the axial direction, and the circumferential direction normal to the axial direction.
Set forth below is a brief summary of the invention that solves the foregoing problems and provides benefits and advantages in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein. This invention is directed to a turbine seal for sealing openings in or between turbine components in the radial direction, the axial direction, and in the circumferential direction, normal to the axial direction. One embodiment of the turbine seal of this invention includes a main body configured to fit in a recess in a turbine component to seal the turbine seal to the recess. The main body includes a longitudinal axis that may be positioned generally parallel to the axial direction. The turbine seal also includes two arms for engaging a surface of a turbine component, each of which extend from the main body in the same general direction and are generally parallel to each other. The turbine seal further includes a center sealing member, otherwise referred to as a third arm, positioned between the two arms described above for sealing an opening from fluid movement in the axial direction.
The turbine seal may further include a sealing mechanism on the ends of the arms configured to contact a surface of a turbine component. The sealing mechanism may be composed of numerous designs, such as, but not limited to, one or more protrusions. Furthermore, the sealing mechanism may be composed of the same material used to form the arms or may be formed of other suitable materials.
In another embodiment of the turbine seal, the main body is not configured to fit in a recess in a turbine component. Rather, a side of the main body, opposite to the side to which the first and second arms and the center sealing member are coupled, includes two sealing arms, referred to as fourth and fifth arms, and may or may not include a center sealing member attached to the main body and positioned between the fourth and fifth arms. This turbine seal operates by sealing an opening using the first and second arms on one side of the opening and the fourth and fifth arms on the other side of the opening.
An object of this invention includes, but is not limited to, sealing an opening in a turbine component in the axial direction, the radial direction, and the circumferential direction, normal or generally orthogonal to the axial direction.
An advantage of this invention is that the turbine seal may be positioned in a turbine assembly so that a longitudinal axis of the turbine seal is generally transverse to the axial direction of the turbine blade assembly.
Yet another advantage of this invention is that this invention provides a turbine seal that is flexible and capable of absorbing vibrations typically encountered during turbine operation.
The turbine seal 10 of this invention is usable to seal turbine components 12 together at various locations throughout a turbine assembly. As shown in
While this invention is shown positioned in contact with turbine components having certain configurations, this invention is not limited to use with such a turbine configuration. Rather, this invention may be used in any situation where a seal is needed to prevent or significantly restrict a fluid from passing a particular point in a turbine assembly. For instance, this invention may be used to close an opening in a single turbine component or between two or more turbine components.
The particular embodiment of the turbine seal shown in
In certain embodiments, the first arm 22 or the second arm 24, or both, include at least one sealing element 28 for coupling the turbine seal to a surface 16 of a turbine component. The sealing element 28 may be formed from numerous configurations. For instance, in one embodiment, the sealing element may be composed of at least one protrusion, and more specifically, may be composed of a first protrusion 30 and a second protrusion 32, as shown in
The configuration of the sealing element 28 shown in
The main body 14 in the embodiment shown in
Similarly, the first and second arms, 22 and 24, may include characteristics enabling the arms to be coupled to a surface 16 of a turbine component. For instance, the first arm 22 or the second arm 24, or both, can be biased generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 26 of the main body 14 of the turbine seal. Thus, when either or both arms are deflected towards the longitudinal axis 26, the arms attempt to return to the resting position. Such a configuration enables the arms to maintain contact with a surface 16 of a turbine component while the turbine is operating despite the often severe vibrations encountered.
The turbine seal 10 also includes a center sealing member 36, also referred to as a third arm. In one embodiment, the center sealing member 36 is positioned between first and second arms, 22 and 24, as shown in FIG. 2. The center sealing member prevents a fluid from flowing between the first and second arms, 22 and 24, in a direction that is generally normal to the plane in which
In another embodiment of the turbine seal, as shown in
As with the first and second arms 22 and 24, the fourth or fifth arms, 42 and 44, or both, may include one or more sealing elements 28 for coupling the respective arm to a surface 16 of a turbine component, which may be the inside surface of a recess 20 in a turbine rotor assembly, as shown in FIG. 5. As previously mentioned, the sealing mechanism may be configured in numerous manners, all of which are applicable to sealing elements 28 coupled to the fourth and fifth arms, 42 and 44.
In the embodiment shown in
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention or the following claims.
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