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US 9,541,197 B2Granted
Seal system and method of manufacture
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGerardo Plata Contreras, Douglas Alan Jones, Sofia Cayón Aguilar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system including a seal is provided. The seal includes a first layer made of a first non-metallic, elastic material. The seal further includes a second layer made of a second non-metallic, heat resistant material. The second layer is configured to thermally protect the first layer from heat. The seal is configured to extend across a gap between first and second surfaces, and the first and second layers are formed into a bended structure configured to expand and contract in response to a dimensional change in the gap.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- a heat exchanger comprising:
- a first chamber and a second chamber;
- and
- a seal, comprising:
- a first layer made of a first non-metallic, elastic material;
- a second layer made of a second non-metallic, heat resistant material configured to thermally protect the first layer from heat, wherein the seal is configured to extend across a gap between first and second surfaces, and the first and second layers are formed into a bended structure configured to expand and contract in a first direction in response to a dimensional change in the gap, wherein the first surface abuts the first chamber and the second surface abuts the second chamber, wherein the bended structure is formed into a curved shape configured to follow, in a second direction, a contour of the heat exchanger, wherein the first and the second direction are on different planes 90 degrees from one another;
- and
- a turbine system configured to provide power, wherein the turbine system comprises a low pressure compressor;
- a high pressure compressor;
- a first conduit fluidly coupling the high pressure compressor to the first chamber;
- and a second conduit fluidly coupling the low pressure compressor to the second chamber.
8 more elements
A system comprising:
- a heat exchanger comprising:
- a first chamber and a second chamber;
- and
- an expansion joint seal, comprising:
- a first mount portion configured to be fastened to a first surface of the first chamber;
- a second mount portion configured to be fastened to a second surface of the second chamber;
- an intermediate portion extending between the first and second mount portions, wherein the intermediate portion comprises at least one bend configured to enable expansion and contraction of the expansion joint seal across a gap between the first and second surfaces in a first direction while the first and second mount portions are fastened to the respective first and second surfaces, wherein the bend is formed into a curved shape configured to follow, in a second direction, a contour of the heat exchanger, wherein the first and the second direction are on different planes 90 degrees from one another;
- and
- a turbine system configured to provide power, wherein the turbine system comprises a low pressure compressor;
- a high pressure compressor;
- a first conduit fluidly coupling the high pressure compressor to the first chamber;
- and a second conduit fluidly coupling the low pressure compressor to the second chamber.
9 more elements
A method of manufacturing a seal comprising:
- manufacturing a heat exchanger for a turbine system comprising a first chamber;
- a second chamber;
- and a seal coupling the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein manufacturing the seal comprises:
- disposing a first substrate on top of a second substrate;
- disposing the second substrate on top of a third substrate;
- positioning the first, the second, and the third substrates on a mold;
- heating the mold;
- and compressing the first, the second, and the third substrates in the mold, wherein the mold comprises a shape configured to enable the seal to expand and to contract in a first direction, and the shape comprises a “U” shape, a “V” shape, a square shape, or a combination thereof, and wherein the mold comprises a curve configured to follow, in a second direction, a contour of the heat exchanger, wherein the first and the second direction are on different planes 90 degrees from one another;
- wherein the turbine system comprises a low pressure compressor;
- a high pressure compressor;
- a first conduit fluidly coupling the high pressure compressor to the first chamber;
- and a second conduit fluidly coupling the low pressure compressor to the second chamber.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.