Axially oriented shingle face seal for turbine rotor and related method

Abstract

An axial seal arrangement is provided between a rotor and a stator. The rotor is provided with a first disk having a substantially flat sealing face surface. The stator is provided with a second annular disk surrounding the rotor, supporting proximate ends of a plurality of axially extending, flexible, compliant seal elements arranged in an annular array of plural, circumferentially-overlapping radial layers to thereby provide a tortuous path for radially outward leakage flow.

1 . An axial seal arrangement between a rotor and a stator comprising:
 a rotor provided with a first annular disk having a substantially flat annular sealing surface;   a stator provided with a second annular disk surrounding the rotor, said second annular disk supporting proximate ends of a plurality of flexible, compliant seal elements arranged in an annular array about the rotor and extending axially towards said annular sealing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The axial seal arrangement of  claim 1  wherein said stator is provided with axially extending inner and outer rings secured to said second annular disk, said compliant seal elements located radially between said inner and outer rings. 
     
     
         3 . The axial seal arrangement of  claim 1  wherein said compliant seal elements comprise bristles having round cross-sectional shapes. 
     
     
         4 . The axial seal arrangement of  claim 1  wherein said compliant seal elements comprise plural leaf seal elements. 
     
     
         5 . The axial seal arrangement of  claim 1  wherein said compliant seal elements comprise plural annular rows of seal elements, said plural annular rows offset in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         6 . An axial seal arrangement between a rotor and a stator comprising:
 a rotor provided with a first disk having a substantially flat axial sealing surface;   a stator provided with a second disk surrounding the rotor, said second disk supporting proximate ends of a plurality of flexible compliant seal elements extending axially towards said axial sealing surface, said seal elements arranged in a plurality of radially spaced, annular and circumferentially overlapping rows to thereby provide a tortuous path for radially outward leakage flow;   wherein said stator is provided with axially extending inner and outer rings secured to said second disk, said compliant seal elements located radially between said inner and outer rings.   
     
     
         7 . The axial seal arrangement of  claim 6  wherein each of said flexible, compliant seal elements has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         8 . A method of reducing leakage flow between a rotor and a stator comprising:
 (a) establishing a first radially extending surface on the rotor;   (b) establishing a second radially extending surface on the stator; and   (c) locating a plurality of axially extending, flexible, compliant seal elements between said first and said second surfaces.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (c) is carried out by arranging said compliant seal elements in plural radial layers that are staggered in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said flexible, compliant seal elements are composed of shingles, each having a rectilinear cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said flexible compliant seal elements are composed of bristles, each having a round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said compliant seal elements are attached to said second surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said compliant seal elements are attached to said first surface.