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Conference Article: Results of Experimental Investigations on Sliding Seal Mock-up for GT-MHR RP Turbomachine

Abstract

Gas Turbine - Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR) is an improved power unit, design of which is developed by several Russian enterprises under support of Minatom of Russia and Department of Energy of the USA. Other foreign companies show interest in this project too [1,2]. The power unit consists of the helium modular reactor, capable of high-temperature heat generating, and power conversion unit (PCU) including a turbomachine. The turbomachine consists of a turbocompressor (TC) and an electric generator. The turbocompressor (Fig. 1) is a vertical mechanism mounted inside PCU cavity. Annular gaps between PCU inside and TC stator face are sealed by segment rings (Fig. 2). Seals should allow moving TC to PCU in radial and axial directions to compensate their relative heat and force distortions. TC is dismounted upward from PCU vessel together with TC stator seals in 60 000 hours. Turbocompressor stator seals have to limit helium bypass leakage in the circuit. Turbocompressor consists of six seals (Fig. 1) from 1000 to 3200 mm seal face in diameter. Annular contact seals are segment seals. They have to contact along the face of a sealing surface and along the diameter of the other sealing surface. To minimize sealed medium leakage the local gaps in the seals required to be minimum. The turbocompressor stator seals must safely operate under all operating conditions. At violation of round form of inner sealing surface under the influence of stresses originating from gradient of temperature and sealed medium pressure the turbocompressor stator seals must fulfill their functions. The turbocompressor stator seal structure must be stable to vibration disturbance of turbocompressor and gas flow. These requirements are especially vital for seals of considerable diameter (more than 1000 mm), which operate under conditions of high temperature and pressure drop. OKBM carried out experimental investigations of turbokompressor stator sliding seal of 1000 mm diameter in the air.

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Reference:

Proceedings of the Conference on High Temperature Reactors, Beijing, China, September, 22-24, 2004

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

HTR-2004, pp:1-4