The J-Seal - Novel concept for a resilient noncontacting face seal

Abstract

Turbine engine compressor seals must survive a severe environment of pressure and temperature while minimizing leakage. In addition, these seals must be tolerant to uncertainty and fluctuation in relative location of stationary and rotating members. Resilient seals overcome this uncertainty by making the stationary member flexible. Any interference is temporarily accommodated by elastic deformation, and, when the rotating member subsequently moves away, the stationary member springs back to follow it. The problem with resilient seals is to combine flexibility with strength. The J-Seal is a concept which supports the steady pressure load by membrane action, and minimizes the bending stresses which have to be supported when accommodating relative motion between stator and rotor. A design study has been performed and the resultant configuration is now at the fabrication stage. This paper describes the concept and the tradeoffs involved in its design, and presents the performance to be anticipated.