Internally-cooled seal housing for turbine engine

摘要

The invention relates to a system of shaft sealing for a turbine engine. Carbon-ring seals placed on pressurized bearing compartments are adapted to operate on ceramic runners which are cooled by lubricating fluid. The runners are closed at one end so that fluid does not enter an interface between the runner and the seal. The seal is held in place in a cylindrical seal housing with an inwardly projecting seal retention wall. An internally cooled seal housing is provided having an enclosed annular cooling groove is formed in the wall. Fluid is circulated through the groove to provide cooling of the seal housing and the carbon-ring seal. The circulated fluid is provided from the same source as fluid that is circulated to lubricate bearings on the engine. However, a separately controlled fluid delivery system is employed so that a rate of flow of fluid to the seal housing can be specifically controlled. Cooling effects of circulated fluid are made available to the seal housing even though there is no fluid directed at a shaft-seal interface. Undesirable churning and fluid loss also may be reduced.