摘要 |
A brush seal (3) is provided to seal two differently pressurized spaces (R1, R2) on opposite sides of a rotor (1) cooperating with a stator (2), for example in a gas turbine engine, around a circumferential gap between the rotor (1) and the stator (2). The brush seal (3) includes seal bristles (5) having free ends extending annularly concentrically and parallel to a rotation axis of the rotor (1) and fixed ends received in a seal housing (6). A perimeter rim of the rotor (1) has an axis-concentric circumferential groove (7) therein, and the free ends of the seal bristles (5) reach into this circumferential groove (7). During operation of the rotor (1), fluid boundary layers are formed respectively between the seal bristles (5) and the side walls (9A, 9B) of the circumferential groove (7). The boundary layers (GI, GA) cause the seal bristles (5) to float up out of contact with and substantially centered between the side walls of the circumferential groove (7), and also enhance the seal effect. The axis-parallel orientation of the bristles (5) reduces the radial height of the seal arrangement, and ensures that good radial compensation is still achieved.
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