LABYRINTH SEAL WITH TUNABLE FLOW SPLITTER

摘要

A flow splitter includes a stepped ring and a flow restriction. The stepped ring includes a first inner wall having a first diameter, a second inner wall having a second diameter less than the first diameter, a radial step that transitions from the first to the second inner wall, and a plurality of apertures circumferentially located along the first inner wall and partially through the radial step. The first flow restriction has at least a portion thereof at a position between the first diameter and the second diameter. Further, the first flow restriction directs a flow of at least one of a gas and a fluid towards the first inner wall, and is configured to split the flow into an exit flow and a secondary flow. The exit flow exits the stepped ring via the plurality of apertures and the secondary flow proceeds downstream directed by the second inner walls.

主权项

1. A labyrinth seal system comprising:
a rotor comprising a first labyrinth knife set and a second labyrinth knife set, and a stator comprising:
a first inner wall having a first inner diameter;a second inner wall having a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, wherein at least a portion of the first labyrinth knife set is positioned between the first and the second inner diameters;a step having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the step transitions to the first inner wall and the second end of the step transitions to the second inner wall; anda plurality of apertures that passes partially through the step and through the first inner wall, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is configured to allow at least one of a liquid and a gas from within the stator to flow through the stator, and wherein the rotor is positionable in the stator such that first labyrinth knife set is positioned within the first inner wall and the second labyrinth set is positioned within the second inner wall.