Abstract:
A seal assembly for an aeronautical turbine engine includes a passive flow regulator. The passive flow regulator includes a seal body defining an aspiration conduit, and a flow constrictor disposed within and/or adjacently upstream of the aspiration conduit. The aspiration conduit provides fluid communication across the seal body from a relatively higher-pressure fluid volume to a relatively lower-pressure fluid volume. The flow constrictor includes one or more flexure elements that move in one or more degrees of freedom as a result of changes in a pressure differential across the flow constrictor. The movement of the one or more flexure elements changes a hydraulic resistance of fluid flow past the flow constrictor based at least in part on a position of the flow constrictor in relation to the aspiration conduit.
Abstract:
A turbine engine comprising an engine core having at least a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement defining an axial direction and an engine centerline. The turbine engine further having a rotor and a stator, a carriage assembly carried by the stator, and a seal assembly biased toward the rotor.
Abstract:
The subject matter described herein relate to a segmented piston seal system. The segmented piston seal includes a first semi-circular section (FSCS) that includes a first locking structure at opposite ends of the FSCS. The segmented piston seal includes a second semi-circular section (SSCS) that includes a second locking structure at opposite ends of the SSCS. The first and second locking structures are configured to lock the FSCS and the SSCS together to form a piston seal.
Abstract:
A turbomachine and a method of operating the turbomachine are disclosed. The turbomachine includes a stator, a rotor including a rotor bearing face, a face seal assembly, a first pressure cavity, and a second pressure cavity. The face seal assembly includes a seal ring including a seal bearing face, a first pressure cavity, and a plurality of isolated hydrostatic ports extending from the first pressure cavity to the seal bearing face. The face seal assembly is slidably coupled to the stator and defines a face seal clearance between the rotor and seal bearing faces. The second and third pressure cavities are defined by the stator, the rotor, and the face seal assembly. The third pressure cavity is disposed downstream of the second pressure cavity with reference to flow of a process fluid along the stator and rotor. The first pressure cavity is isolated from the second and third pressure cavities.
Abstract:
A seal ring assembly for use with a rotary machine that includes an axis of rotation includes a seal housing comprising a secondary sealing surface and a secondary seal assembly coupled to the seal housing. The secondary seal assembly includes a seal ring coupled to the seal housing, wherein the seal ring is configured to form a secondary seal with the secondary sealing surface. The secondary seal assembly also includes at least one protection ring positioned upstream from the seal ring. The secondary seal assembly is configured to be biased along the axis such that biasing the at least one protection ring facilitates removing debris from at least a portion of the secondary sealing surface over which the seal ring travels during biasing.
Abstract:
An aspirating face seal for use with a rotary machine includes a rotating seal ring including a radially outer surface that includes an oblique portion. A stationary seal ring is coupled proximate the rotating seal ring such that a first gap is defined therebetween. The stationary seal ring is movable along a centerline axis of the rotary machine between an open position and a sealed position, and includes an extension member that extends across the first gap. An auxiliary seal includes at least one seal tooth that includes a seal tooth tip. The at least one seal tooth extends radially inward from the extension member such that a second gap is defined between the seal tooth tip and the oblique portion.
Abstract:
A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple sealing device segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor. Each of the sealing device segments includes a stator interface element, a shoe plate having an extended portion having one or more labyrinth teeth facing the rotor and a load bearing portion, wherein the shoe plate is configured to generate an aerodynamic force between the shoe plate and the rotor. The sealing device segment further includes a secondary seal configured to be in contact with the stator interface element at a radially outer end and configured to be in contact with an elevated nose section of the extended portion of the shoe plate on a radially inner end; and multiple flexible elements attached to the shoe plate and to the stator interface element.
Abstract:
A turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine defines a radial direction and includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal segments, the plurality of seal segments having a seal segment, the seal segment having a seal face configured to form a fluid bearing with the rotor; and a seal support assembly, the seal support assembly comprises a pneumatic engagement assembly operable to bias the seal segment along the radial direction during operation of the turbine engine.
Abstract:
A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes one or more pressure sensors and a controller in communication with the one or more pressure sensors. The one or more pressure sensors is mounted at a seal of a turbine to measure pressure on a first side of the seal and/or a second side of the seal. The controller is configured to receive pressure data from the one or more pressure sensors and determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on the pressure data. The controller is configured to output a signal upon determining a change in the condition of the seal.
Abstract:
A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes a temperature sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is mounted at a seal of a device. The controller is configured to receive measured temperature data from the temperature sensor and calculate expected temperature data for the seal based at least in part on operating conditions of the device. The controller is configured to determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on a temperature difference of the measured temperature data from the expected temperature data.