Sealing arrangement

Abstract

A sealing arrangement between a rotating plane surface on a rotor and a machine housing prevents flow of process fluid between an internal volume and an external volume of the machine housing. The sealing arrangement includes a piston arrangement, and a sealing bearing ring between the piston arrangement and the rotating plane surface. A fluid supply line supplies pressurized lubrication fluid through the machine housing to a piston cavity, wherein the piston arrangement further includes piston fluid channels and the bearing sealing ring includes lubrication conduits through the bearing sealing ring, corresponding with the piston fluid channels. The pressurized lubrication fluid is arranged for moving the piston arrangement against the sealing bearing ring and thus moving the sealing bearing ring against the sealing surface thus forming a sealing arrangement.

Claims

1. A sealing arrangement of a sliding vane machine used as a compressor, expander or pump, for sealing between a rotating plane surface on a rotor and a machine housing to prevent flow of process fluid between an internal volume to an external volume of said sliding vane machine, wherein: said machine housing comprising a seal pocket located at a housing end and said seal pocket opens towards the direction of said external volume and said internal volume, a sealing assembly arranged for mounting in said seal pocket, wherein said sealing assembly further comprising: a piston arrangement, and a sealing bearing ring between said piston arrangement and said rotating plane surface; a fluid supply line for a pressurized lubrication fluid through said machine housing to a piston cavity, said piston arrangement further having piston fluid channels and said sealing bearing ring having lubrication conduits through said sealing bearing ring corresponding with said piston fluid channels, said pressurized lubrication fluid arranged for moving and forcing said piston arrangement against said sealing bearing ring and thus moving and forcing said sealing bearing ring against said rotating plane surface wherein flow restriction of said piston fluid channels at least in part is provided by flow restrictors.

2. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said piston arrangement is accommodated in one or more corresponding said piston cavities, said one or more piston cavities being arranged in an inner portion of said seal pocket.

3. The sealing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said piston cavities are arranged in a wall in said seal pocket in said machine housing.

4. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a piston housing ring arranged between said sealing bearing ring and machine housing and accommodating one or more of said piston cavities for said piston arrangement, wherein said piston housing ring further comprises channels through said one or more piston cavities.

5. The sealing arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising a water distance ring arranged between said piston housing ring and said machine housing.

6. The sealing arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising a retaining and guide ring with a guide ring surface, wherein said retaining and guide ring is facing towards said piston housing ring and said retaining and guide ring is arranged onto said piston housing ring in an outer circumferential portion of said sealing bearing ring.

7. The sealing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said retaining and guide ring is facing towards said piston housing ring, said retaining and guide ring is arranged onto said piston housing ring in an outer circumferential portion of said piston housing ring and coaxially arranged onto an outer circumference of said sealing bearing ring.

8. The sealing arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising a guiding and fixation arrangement wherein said sealing bearing ring has a shoulder protruding in an outward radial direction to interact with a corresponding inward directed protruding shoulder on said retaining and guide ring, and further said piston housing ring has a recess in a radial direction for restraining said retaining and guide ring.

9. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said piston arrangement is an annular piston ring.

10. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said piston arrangement is a plurality of pistons.

11. The sealing arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said flow restrictor is placed in said piston fluid channels in said plurality of pistons to limit the fluid flow to the corresponding lubrication conduits.

12. A sealing method of a sliding vane machine used as a compressor, expander or pump for sealing between a rotating plane surface on a rotor of said sliding vane machine and a machine housing to prevent flow of process fluid between an internal volume to an external volume of said sliding vane machine, said machine housing comprising a seal pocket located at a housing end and said seal pocket opens towards the direction of the external volume and the internal volume, the sealing method comprising: mounting a sealing assembly in said seal pocket, by arranging sealing bearing ring between a piston arrangement and said rotating plane surface, supplying a fluid through a supply line for a pressurized lubrication fluid through said machine housing to a piston cavity, and to piston fluid channels in said piston arrangement and further to lubrication conduits through said sealing bearing ring corresponding with said piston fluid channels, at least partially restricting, by means of flow restrictors, fluid flow through the piston fluid channels, pressurizing said lubrication fluid, thus forcing said piston arrangement against said sealing bearing ring and thus forcing said sealing bearing ring against said rotating plane surface and thus sealing between said rotating plane surface on said rotor and said machine housing.

Description

FIGURE CAPTIONS

(1) The attached drawing figures illustrate some embodiments of the claimed machine.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a partially sectioned perspective view of a rotary vane compressor wherein one visible sealing unit is shown.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view axially through of a rotor which is eccentrically arranged in a housing with two sealing units.

(4) FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the sealing unit.

(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view of part of the sealing surface.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a typical pressure distribution along the perimeter of the housing of a rotary vane compressor.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sealing unit.

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the sealing unit.

(9) FIG. 8 is a further embodiment of the sealing unit.

(10) FIG. 9 is yet another embodiment of the sealing unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS

(11) In the following, embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(12) It is disclosed a sealing arrangement for a sliding vane machine for compressing or expanding a fluid, for sealing between a rotating plane surface (1a) on a rotor (1) and a machine housing (2) to prevent flow of process fluid (F) between an internal volume (10) to an external volume (13) of said vane machine comprising: said housing (2) comprising a seal pocket (P) located at a housing end (20), said seal pocket (P) having an aperture towards the direction of said external volume (13) and said internal volume (10), a sealing assembly (3) arranged for mounting in said seal pocket (P), said sealing assembly (3) comprising: a piston arrangement (5, 5′), and a sealing bearing ring (4) between said piston arrangement (5, 5′) and said plane surface (1a), a fluid supply line (12) for a pressurized lubrication fluid (LF) through said housing (2) to a piston cavity (6c), said piston arrangement (5, 5′) further having piston fluid channels (5b) and said sealing bearing ring (4) having lubrication conduits (4d) through said bearing seal ring (4), corresponding with said piston fluid channels (5b), said pressurized lubrication fluid (LF) arranged for moving said piston (5, 5′) against said sealing bearing ring (4) and thus moving/forcing said sealing bearing ring (4) towards and against said sealing surface (1a) thus forming a sealing arrangement. Flow restriction of the piston fluid channels (5b) is at least in part provided by flow restrictors (5a).

(13) The sealing assembly (3) is depicted in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 7. The embodiment shows a piston arrangement (5, 5′) placed in a pocket (P) that is a recess in the housing (2). This recess or pocket (P) can be manufactured by turning or machining a recess in the housing (2). The pressurized lubrication fluid flows through a conduit (12) via a pump (not shown) to the piston arrangements (5,5′) cavity (6c). The piston arrangement (5, 5′) acts against the sealing bearing ring (4) which in turn acts against the plane surface (1b). At the same time, the pressurized lubrication fluid (LF) will flow through the piston fluid channels (5b). These piston fluid channels (5b) are in fluid connection with the lubrication conduits (4d) of the bearing sealing ring (4). For sealing of the pressurized fluid, O-rings (0) or equivalent can be used around the piston arrangement (5, 5′), between the piston arrangement (5, 5′) and bearing sealing ring (4) and radially between the piston arrangement (5, 5′) and bearing sealing ring (4).

(14) The disclosure mitigates the disadvantages associated with prior art solutions, by establishing a sealing gap with tightly controlled gap distance, regardless of eccentric and even axial movement of the sealing surface, that has a predictable leakage rate, no friction, and no wear of the seal or the sealing surface. It is provided a balanced seal, wherein the local process fluid exerts pressure on both the effective area of a sealing lip and on a similar pressure area in connection with the process chamber, so that the seal is unaffected by uneven pressure distribution and varying local pressure. It is also provided a sealing solution with low friction, as the gap distance is controlled by hydrostatic bearings that only need a small preloading to maintain a predictable lubrication film. As the load on the seal from the process fluid pressure is nearly or for the most part balanced, the necessary loading of the bearings is low, and the resulting friction is also low.

(15) In an embodiment, the piston arrangement (5, 5′) is accommodated in one or more corresponding piston cavities (6c), wherein the piston cavity (6c) is arranged in an inner portion of the pocket (P).

(16) In another embodiment, the piston cavities (6c) are arranged in a wall (W) in the pocket (P) in the housing (2). This wall (W) is depicted in FIG. 8. This is beneficial due to an improved sealing of the piston arrangement (5, 5′). Sealing of a pressurized fluid is a lot easier to accommodate in a discrete cavity in a wall. O-rings or similar may be used for this purpose.

(17) According to an embodiment, a piston housing ring (6) is arranged between the sealing bearing ring (4) and the housing (2) and accommodates one or more piston cavities (6d) for the piston arrangement (5, 5′), the piston housing ring (6) further comprises channels (6a) through one or more piston cavities (6d). FIGS. 3, 6 and 9 all show a piston housing ring (6) arranged in such a manner. By utilizing a separate piston housing ring (6) between the housing (2) and the sealing bearing ring (4), it is easier to obtain the required machining tolerances and final fitting tolerances within the seal assembly. The pocket (P) is a simple machined recess.

(18) FIG. 1 shows a partially sectioned rotary vane compressor. A rotor (1) is eccentrically mounted in a housing (2) so that a cavity is formed between the inner surface of the housing, a surface (1b) of the rotor and two sealing surfaces (1a) (only one surface is shown). A number of vanes (11) are slidably mounted in the rotor (1), so that the vanes (11) follow the inner surface of the housing (2). The cavity is divided into compression chambers, and the volume of said chambers vary as the rotor (1) is rotated. A change in volume leads to a change in pressure of the medium inside the chambers. A sealing assembly (3) is shown, mounted in the housing (2), comprising of a seal ring (4), a piston housing (6), a retaining and guide ring (7) and a water distribution ring (8).

(19) FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment wherein the sealing assembly comprises more components, and shows a cross section through the rotor (1) inside the housing (2), and two sealing assemblies (3). The figure shows the eccentric rotor axis (1c) relative to the housing (2), that makes the distance between the inner surface of the housing (2), and the surface (1b) of the rotor (1), vary with the position (angular rotation). The figure also shows how the sealing surfaces (1a) of the rotor (1) have an eccentric movement relative to the sealing arrangements. Lubrication for the sealing arrangements is provided through the housing (2) to the seal arrangements through a supply line (12) in the housing. The distribution of the lubrication through the supply line (12) may be constituted as holes, channels, hoses or similar. Supply of lubrication may be via a pump 14 (not shown) that is connected to the supply line (12). This auxiliary pump may be mounted on the housing itself or located in an easily accessible location.

(20) FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the cross section through the sealing arrangement (3), showing the sealing assembly (3) placed in the housing (2), and a sealing bearing ring (4) facing towards the plane, rotating, sealing surface (1a) of the rotor (1). The sealing assembly (3) prevents flow of process fluid between an internal volume (10) to an outside volume (13). The sealing assembly (3) comprises a sealing bearing ring (4) that is located between a piston housing (6) and a retaining and guide ring (7). The sealing bearing ring (4) is pressed towards and against the sealing surface (1a) of the rotor (1) by a plurality of pistons 5′, inserted in the piston housing (6). An optional fluid/water distribution ring (8) is shown between the housing (2) and the piston housing (6). The function of said distribution ring (8) may, in an embodiment, be integrated in or form part of the housing (2). Still with reference to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, the features and functions of the piston housing (6) can also be integrated in or form part of the housing (2). Lubricant is supplied to the sealing assembly (3) from the water distribution ring (8), through a channel (6a) in the piston housing (6), via apertures/holes (6b) to one or more cylinder volumes (9). From the cylinder volumes (9), the lubricant flows through restrictors (5a) in the pistons 5′ and channels (4d) to hydrostatic bearing surfaces (4b). Optional recesses (4c) in the bearing surfaces increase the effective area of the bearing surfaces. When lubricant is provided at a supply pressure higher than the pressure of the outside volume (13), the supply pressure will act on the pistons 5′ and exert a force on the pistons 5′. As the flow of the lubricant is restricted by the restrictors (5a), the lubricant pressure between the bearing surface (4b) and the sealing surface (1a) will be lower than the supply pressure, which requires that the effective area of bearing surface (4b) is greater than the area of piston 5′ exposed to supply pressure. The distance between the bearing surface (4b) and the sealing surface (1a) will determine the rate of the flow from the recess (4c) to the outside volume (13), and the flow rate will determine the pressure difference across the restrictor (5a). When the distance is small (for example 4 μm) the pressure difference will be low, and the pressure between the bearing surfaces (4b) and the sealing surface (1a) will be high. The sealing assembly (3) thereby acts as a hydrostatic bearing, which are then self-adjusting, and will maintain a more or less constant distance between the bearings (4b) and the sealing surface (1a), typically 4 to 20 μm, with water as a lubricant. The sealing bearing ring (4) has a seal lip (4a), that will be kept at a constant distance from the sealing surface (1a), wherein said distance may be the same as the distance between the bearing surfaces and the sealing surface. The small distance between the seal lip and the sealing surface, will result in a small but predictable leakage from the internal volume (10) to outside volume (13). The sealing bearing ring (4) can move in the axial direction, limited by the retaining and guide ring (7), and to a smaller degree in the radial direction, limited by a sliding surface (7a) of the retaining and guide ring (7). An O-ring placed in a groove (4e) as part of the seal ring (4), prevents leakage between the sealing bearing ring (4) and the piston housing (6), from the internal volume (10) to volume (11). A small area (4f) is provided between the seal ring and the piston housing, wherein the pressure of the internal volume (10) acts on the area (4f) to press the seal ring towards and against the sealing surface. The pressure distribution between the seal lip (4a) and the sealing surface will act on the area (4a) to press the seal ring away from the sealing surface. The areas (4a) and (4f) may be chosen to balance the pressure forces from the medium in the internal volume (10), so that the load on the bearing surfaces is mainly dependent on the supply pressure and the piston area. The contact surface (7a) between the sealing bearing ring (4) and the guide ring (7), may be designed so that the contact area is centrically placed relative to the pressure area between the groove (4e) and the sealing surface. The function of the restrictor (5a) may in an embodiment be obtained by distinct restrictors in the channel (4d), a reduced flow cross section in the pistons 5′ or the seal ring (4), or even by the geometry of the recess (4c).

(21) FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the seal ring (4), seen from the outer volume. The bearings provide a substantially non-variable, small distance between the sealing lip/rim and a (rotating) plane sealing surface of a rotor. The hydrostatic bearings are self-adjusting and self-balancing and will follow the sealing surface when the sealing surface is non-planar or experience throw-out, i.e. an imbalance or a warpage, due to surpassed production tolerances and/or thermal expansion. The sealing can even tolerate small axial movements of the sealing surface. The figure shows a sealing lip (4a), a number of hydrostatic bearing pads 4h with optional recesses (4c) and channels (4d) with restrictors (5a). The bearing pads may be designed in a number of different ways. Drain grooves (4g) separate the bearing pads and the sealing lip from the bearing pads 4h. The drain grooves (4g) ensure that lubricant may exit the bearing pads 4h, and process fluid leaking across the sealing lip, are drained to the external volume, with only a negligible pressure build-up outside the sealing lip or rim. The figure also shows that the sealing lip/rim is the only sealing feature of the surface.

(22) FIG. 5 shows a typical pressure distribution along the perimeter of the housing (2) of a rotary vane compressor. The x-axis shows the rotational angle (in degrees) and the y-axis shows the internal pressure of the compressor. In the upper left-hand section of FIG. 5 a simplified view is depicted, the compressor rotor eccentrically placed within the compressor housing, with high pressure (HP) discharge and low pressure (LP) inlet. At any point along the perimeter, the pressure may vary between the minimum pressure graph and the maximum pressure graph, depending on the rotor position. The process pressure that acts on the primary sealing arrangement varies both with angular position and over time. In reality, the pressure transients will in general be more “lenient” than what the calculations show. Nonetheless, it is shown very large pressure fluctuations where the pressure changes between min to max may occur in 40-400 microseconds. In a rotary vane compressor, the inlet area for the process fluid is typically a third of the perimeter. In this area, the fluid pressure is generally low and constant, close to the inlet pressure. The process fluid is compressed during about a third of the revolution, and in this area, the fluid pressure may vary between the lowest and the highest fluid pressure in the compressor, according to the vanes' positions. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the pressure variation is not necessarily the same in all positions. Near the exit (here: discharge), the fluid pressure is always high, though in some cases, the pressure may even be higher than the exit pressure, due to operating conditions, in a smaller area, part of the time. This leads to several challenges for a sealing solution:

(23) The seal will experience low fluid pressure in some areas and high fluid pressure in other areas while large portions of the seal being exposed towards a variable (at a high frequency) oscillating fluid pressure.

(24) Stringent requirements are placed upon a seal that shall function at different conditions and be able to tolerate transients.

(25) Mechanical seals require a large contact force to seal against high pressures, but will degrade at a fast rate if they are exposed to a high contact force at low pressures.

(26) FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the cross section through the seal arrangement (3), showing the sealing assembly (3) placed in the housing (2), and sealing bearing ring (4) facing the plane sealing surface (1a) of the rotor (1). This embodiment is the same configuration as FIG. 3 in components, but the assembly is a mirrored version of FIG. 3. The seal assembly could be held axially in place by means of an annular and coaxial plate (not shown) that is threaded or bolted into the outer portion of the compressor housing (2). Said plate could be sealed against the housing (2) and or water distance ring (8) by means of an O-ring, gasket or similar sealing means.

(27) In an embodiment, the piston arrangement is an annular piston ring (5). By utilizing a separate annular piston ring, said ring may be machined as a separate annular part.

(28) In one, not shown embodiment, the piston arrangement comprises a plurality of pistons. Using a plurality of pistons increases the functionality and repeatability of regulating and controlling a correct and uniform pressure on the sealing bearing ring (4). There is lower probability of the pistons getting pinched or stuck during operation when compared to a solid annular ring solution.

(29) In yet another embodiment, a water distance ring (8) is arranged between the piston housing ring (6) and housing (2), where the water distance ring (8) has one or more lubrication fluid conduits (8a). Accordingly, a water distance ring (8) can be separately fabricated from a circular plate that is simple to machine and O-ring grooves are simple to form in this configuration. This water distance ring (8) is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Sealing between the water distance ring (8), housing (2) and piston housing ring (6) can be performed using O-rings or similar sealing units.

(30) In an embodiment, a retaining and guide ring (7) has a guide ring surface (7a), where the retaining and guide ring (7) is facing towards the piston housing ring (6). The retaining and guide ring (7) is arranged onto the piston housing ring (6) in an outer circumferential portion of the bearing ring (6).

(31) In another, related embodiment, the retaining and guide ring (7) is facing towards the piston housing ring (6), the retaining and guide ring (7) is arranged onto the piston housing ring (6) in an outer circumferential portion of the housing ring (6) and coaxially arranged onto an outer circumference of the sealing bearing ring (4).

(32) In a further embodiment, the sealing bearing ring (4) has a shoulder (4s; shown in FIG. 3) protruding in an outward radial direction to interact with a corresponding inward directed protruding shoulder (7s; also shown in FIG. 3) on the guiding and fixation ring (7). Further, the housing ring (6) has a recess in a radial direction for restraining the retaining and guide ring (7). By virtue of this arrangement, securing and guiding of the sealing bearing ring (4) in both radial and axial directions is possible. This configuration is shown in FIG. 3.

(33) In another embodiment, there are provided fastening means arranged in the retaining and guide ring (7) for securing of the piston housing (6) and securing and guiding the sealing ring (4). This configuration is shown in FIG. 3. The fastening means may comprise of standard threaded through-bolts (B) where the through-bolts (B) are fixed and threaded into the housing (2). Still with reference to FIG. 3, the water distance ring (8), piston housing ring (6) and retaining and guide ring (7) have through-holes that are coaxial and correspond and line up with the through-bolts (B). A second type of fastening means for fixation may be by way of threads, where the threads are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the retaining and guide ring (7) that mesh and engage with threads that are formed on an inner circumferential surface of the housing (2). The threads on the housing (2) and the sealing bearing ring (4) are coaxial with the axis (1c). The threads are not shown in FIG. 3 but a person skilled in the art may fully understand the concept of threaded connections. By using through-bolts (B) or threads, it is achieved ease and simplicity with respect to holding the retaining and guide ring (7) in place.

(34) In another embodiment, the flow restriction of the bearing fluid channel is at least in part provided by discrete/distinct flow restrictions. This is depicted in FIG. 3. These flow restrictions may be formed by a restrictor (5a) that is placed in the bearing piston fluid channels (5b). By using flow restrictors, it is possible to avoid supplying too much lubrication fluid to the sealing arrangement. Using predefined flow-analysis and calculations, it is possible to predict the necessary amount of fluid that is required to obtain a correct flow rate.

(35) Turning again to FIG. 3, the disclosure is also a sealing method for a sliding vane machine for sealing between a rotating plane surface (1a) on a rotor (1) and a machine housing (2) to prevent flow of process fluid between an internal volume (10) to an external volume (13) of said vane machine, said housing (2) comprising a seal pocket (P) located at a housing end and said seal pocket (P) opens towards the direction of the external volume (13) and the internal volume (10), comprising the following; mounting a sealing assembly (3) in said seal pocket (P), by arranging sealing bearing ring (4) between a piston arrangement (5, 5′) and said plane surface (1b), supplying a fluid through a supply line (12) for a pressurized lubrication fluid through said housing (2) to a piston cavity (6c), and to piston fluid channels (5b) in said piston arrangement (5, 5′)
and further to lubrication conduits (4d) through said bearing seal ring (4), corresponding with said piston fluid channels (5b),
restricting, at least in part by means of flow restrictors (5a), fluid flow through the fluid channels (5b), pressurizing said lubrication fluid thus moving or forcing said piston (5, 5′) towards and against said sealing bearing ring (4) and thus moving or forcing said sealing bearing ring (4) towards and against said sealing surface (1a) and thus sealing between said rotating plane surface (1a) on said rotor (1) and said machine housing (2).