Finned Seals for Turbomachinery

Abstract

A seal assembly ( 50 ) controls leakage of working fluid through an annular gap (G) between a static component ( 16 ) and a rotary component ( 28 ) in a turbomachine. The fixed and moving components ( 16, 28 ) each have stepped diameters including a plurality of circumferentially and axially extending lands ( 56, 58 ) that confront each other across the annular gap (G). They are complementarily formed such that the annular gap is maintained over the axial extent of the seal assembly. Both components ( 16, 18 ) are provided with rows of fins ( 60, 62 ) which extend circumferentially of the lands and project radially therefrom towards each other. The rows of fins 60 of the static component 16 are preferably unequally spaced apart with respect to the rows of fins 62 of the rotating component 16 , so producing a vernier seal arrangement.

1 . A seal assembly for controlling leakage of fluid through an annular gap between a rotary component and a static component in a turbomachine, comprising: 
 a rotary component and a static component each having stepped diameters comprising a plurality of circumferentially and axially extending lands which confront each other across an annular gap therebetween and are complementarily formed such that the annular gap is maintained over an axial extent of the seal assembly, both components including a plurality of fins arranged on the lands in axial succession to each other, the fins extending circumferentially of the lands and projecting radially from said lands towards each other, fins on confronting lands being opposed to each other across the gap, the radial dimensions of the opposed fins being sufficient substantially to span the gap when added together; and    wherein at least one fin on one of the components is in registration with a corresponding opposed fin on the other component.    
   
   
       2 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular gap is substantially constant in radial dimension over the axial extent of the seal assembly.  
   
   
       3 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fins on the rotary component, on the static component, or both, comprises a double fin.  
   
   
       4 . A seal assembly according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 circumferentially extending elongate components having a substantially U-shaped cross-section; and    wherein the double fin comprises radially projecting free ends of the circumferentially extending elongate components.    
   
   
       5 . A seal assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the static component comprises a static shroud ring; 
 further comprising grooves formed in the confronting lands on the rotor and on the static shroud ring; and    wherein the circumferentially extending elongate components are secured in the grooves in the confronting lands on the rotor and on the static shroud ring, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves being complementary to the U-shaped cross-section of the elongate components.    
   
   
       6 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fins on the rotary component, on the static component, or both, comprises a multiple fin.  
   
   
       7 . A seal assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 circumferentially extending elongate components having a substantially U-shaped cross-section; and    wherein the multiple fin comprises radially projecting free ends of the circumferentially extending elongate components.    
   
   
       8 . A seal assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the static component comprises a static shroud ring; 
 further comprising grooves formed in the confronting lands on the rotor and on the static shroud ring; and    wherein the circumferentially extending elongate components are secured in the grooves in the confronting lands on the rotor and on the static shroud ring, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves being complementary to the U-shaped cross-section of the elongate components.    
   
   
       9 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing between axially successive fins on the rotary component differs from the spacing between axially successive fins on the static component to produce a vernier seal arrangement.  
   
   
       10 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing between axially successive fins on either or both components is unequal.  
   
   
       11 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein both components have axially successive lands comprising one of 
 a stepwise decrease in diameter over a first axial extent of the seal assembly and a stepwise increase in diameter over a second axial extent of the seal assembly, and    a stepwise increase in diameter over a first axial extent of the seal assembly and a stepwise decrease in diameter over a second axial extent of the seal assembly.    
   
   
       12 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of fins on one of the components is in registration with a corresponding plurality of opposing fins on the other component.  
   
   
       13 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of fins on one of the components is offset from a corresponding plurality of opposing fins on the other component.  
   
   
       14 . A seal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein all the fins on one of the components are in registration with corresponding opposing fins on the other component.