Compressor seal system

A seal system for a turbomachine, comprising a baffle element and an oil seal plate, the baffle element including:

• an inner portion defining a circular central opening which in use is positioned on a rotational axis of the turbomachine with a center of the central opening on the axis and the perimeter of the central opening lying in a plane transverse to the axis;
• an outer portion encircling the inner portion;
• and
• a gutter extending radially-outwardly from the outer portion, and having a wall that coincidently defines a circumferential outer wall of the gutter and an oil redirection surface that is inclined to the plane of the circular central opening and the circumferential outer wall such that the baffle element inhibits formation of a rotating oil film on the forward-facing surface of the baffle, ensuring unobstructed oil flow to the drain and mitigating risk of oil leakage through the central opening and downstream of the baffle element;
• the baffle element having a front surface which in use faces axially forwardly into a bearing chamber, and a rear face which in use faces axially rearwardly towards an oil seal plate,
• the front surface comprising a recess portion which is axially rearward with respect to portions of the front surface which are respectively radially inward and radially outward of the recess portion;
• the recess portion defining a circumferentially-extending oil reception channel which intercepts the oil redirection surface, the channel having varying axial width at different circumferential positions, the axial width of the recess with respect to the circular central opening being greatest at a circumferential position about the axis which is circumferentially spaced from the gutter;
• whereby in use oil moving circumferentially in the channel encounters the oil redirection surface of the gutter and is deflected radially outwardly to thereby perform at least one of converting the circumferential velocity into axial velocity and directing the oil towards a drain;
• and wherein the oil seal plate comprises:
• an annular body defining a central seal opening which in use is positioned on a rotational axis of the turbomachine with a centre of the central seal opening on the axis;
• the annular body having a front surface which in use faces towards the baffle element and the bearing chamber;
• and
• the front surface of the annular body comprising (i) a support surface for in use contacting the rear surface of the baffle element, and (ii) a drain surface which in use is in circumferential register with the gutter of the baffle element, and spaced from the rear surface of the baffle element, the drain surface being further from the axis than a corresponding portion of the support surface on the opposite side of the axis.

A turbomachine, comprising:

• a housing defining a bearing chamber;
• a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a portion of the shaft being within the bearing chamber;
• a plurality of bearing elements mounted on the housing within the bearing chamber, the bearing elements supporting the shaft, and permitting the shaft to rotate about the axis;
• an oil delivery mechanism for supplying oil to the bearing elements;
• a slinger element coupled to the shaft;
• and
• a seal system at one axial end of the bearing chamber;
• the seal system comprising a baffle element and an oil seal plate, the baffle element including:
• an inner portion defining a circular central opening which in use is positioned on a rotational axis of the turbomachine with a centre of the central opening on the axis and the perimeter of the central opening lying in a plane transverse to the axis;
• an outer portion encircling the inner portion;
• and
• a gutter extending radially-outwardly from the outer portion, and having a wall that coincidently defines a circumferential outer wall of the gutter and an oil redirection surface that is inclined to the plane of the circular central opening and the circumferential outer wall such that the baffle element inhibits formation of a rotating oil film on the forward-facing surface of the baffle, ensuring unobstructed oil flow to the drain and mitigating risk of oil leakage through the central opening and downstream of the baffle element;
• the baffle element having a front surface which in use faces axially forwardly into a bearing chamber, and a rear face which in use faces axially rearwardly towards the oil seal plate,
• the front surface comprising a recess portion which is axially rearward with respect to portions of the front surface which are respectively radially inward and radially outward of the recess portion;
• the recess portion defining a circumferentially-extending oil reception channel which intercepts the oil redirection surface, the channel having varying axial width at different circumferential positions, the axial width of the recess with respect to the circular central opening being greatest at a circumferential position about the axis which is circumferentially spaced from the gutter;
• whereby in use oil moving circumferentially in the channel encounters the oil redirection surface of the gutter and is deflected radially outwardly to thereby perform at least one of converting the circumferential velocity into axial velocity and directing the oil towards a drain;
• and wherein the oil seal plate comprises:
• an annular body defining a central seal opening which in use is positioned on a rotational axis of the turbomachine with a centre of the central seal opening on the axis;
• the annular body having a front surface which in use faces towards the baffle element and the bearing chamber;
• and
• the front surface of the annular body comprising (i) a support surface for in use contacting the rear surface of the baffle element, and (ii) a drain surface which in use is in circumferential register with the gutter of the baffle element, and spaced from the rear surface of the baffle element, the drain surface being further from the axis than a corresponding portion of the support surface on the opposite side of the axis.