Gas seal assembly for cryogenic liquid turbomachines
AssigneeCryostar SAS
InventorsSebastien BESSON, Bruno Brethes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dry seal apparatus (30) for a machine (10) includes a seal having a stationary portion (40) and a rotating portion (38); a space (44) disposed between the stationary and rotating portions; a biasing member (42) disposed proximate the stationary portion (40) and in contact therewith for applying a force to the stationary portion; and a labyrinth (37) proximate the rotating portion (38) and constructed and arranged for receiving a liquid for being vaporized before entering the space between the stationary and rotating portions of the seal. A related method is also provided.
Claims12
A turbomachine for cryogenic liquid having a dry seal apparatus, comprising:
- a seal having a stationary portion (40) and a rotating portion (38);
- a space (44) disposed between the stationary and rotating portions;
- a biasing member (42) disposed proximate the stationary portion (40) and in contact therewith for applying a force to the stationary portion (40);
- and
- a labyrinth (37) proximate the rotating portion (38) and constructed and arranged for receiving a liquid for being vaporized before entering the space (44) between the stationary and rotating portions of the seal.
A method of dry sealing a seal in a turbomachine for a cryogenic liquid, comprising:
- providing a stationary portion (40) and a rotating portion (38) spaced apart from the stationary portion;
- exerting a force against the stationary portion (40) for controlling a size of a space (44) between the stationary and rotating portions;
- introducing an expandable liquid into a labyrinth (37) proximate the rotating portion (38) for exposing said expandable liquid to a warmer temperature of the labyrinth and the rotating portion (38);
- and
- vaporizing the expandable liquid for providing a gas to be introduced into the space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.