Compliant plate seals for rotary machines

Abstract

A seal assembly for rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple compliant plates disposed between a stationary component and a rotary component of the rotary machine, and coupled circumferentially along the stationary component. Each compliant plate comprises a tip configured to be disposed facing the rotary component, and at least one plate slot extending from the stationary component towards the rotary component. The seal assembly also includes at least one annular resistance member configured to be coupled to the stationary component and disposed in the at least one plate slot in the compliant plates and one or more rotor slots or grooves located circumferentially on a surface of the rotary component proximate the tip of each of the plurality of compliant plates.

1 . A seal assembly for a rotary machine, the seal assembly comprising:
 a plurality of compliant plates disposed between a stationary component and a rotary component of the rotary machine, and coupled circumferentially along the stationary component, wherein each compliant plate comprises a tip configured to be disposed facing the rotary component, and at least one intermediate plate slot extending from the stationary component towards the rotary component;   at least one annular resistance member configured to be coupled to the stationary component and disposed in the at least one intermediate plate slot in the compliant plates; and   one or more rotor slots or grooves located circumferentially on a surface of the rotary component proximate the tip of each of the plurality of compliant plates.   
     
     
         2 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rotor slots or grooves are located circumferentially on the surface of the rotary component towards a high pressure side of the rotary machine for allowing the plurality of compliant plates to lift off at low tip clearances with the surface of the rotary component. 
     
     
         3 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rotor slots or grooves are located circumferentially on the surface of the rotary component towards a low pressure side for allowing the plurality of compliant plates to blow-down during large tip clearances with the surface of the rotary component. 
     
     
         4 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rotor slots or grooves are configured to effect a pressure distribution on the tip of the compliant plates such that a defined clearance is established between the tip of the plurality of compliant plates and the rotary component during operation of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         5 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more rotor slots comprise a rectangular shaped slot. 
     
     
         6 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more rotor slots comprise a triangular shaped slot. 
     
     
         7 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more rotor grooves comprise a rectangular shaped groove. 
     
     
         8 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more rotor grooves comprise a triangular shaped groove. 
     
     
         9 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of compliant plates comprise a tip slot in a portion of the tip proximate a high pressure side of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         10 . The seal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the tip slot is a rectangular shaped slot or a triangular shaped slot. 
     
     
         11 . The seal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the tip slot extends from a side of the tip proximate the high pressure region towards the low pressure region. 
     
     
         12 . The seal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the tip slot is configured to effect a pressure distribution on the tip of the compliant plates such that a defined clearance is established between the tip of the plurality of compliant plates and the rotary component during operation of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         13 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular resistance member comprises a continuous ring. 
     
     
         14 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular resistance member comprises a plurality of segments assembled to form a ring. 
     
     
         15 . A rotary machine comprising:
 a stationary component;   a rotary component; and   a seal assembly disposed between the stationary component and the rotary component, the seal assembly comprising:
 a plurality of compliant plates disposed between the stationary component and the rotary component, and coupled circumferentially along the stationary component, wherein each compliant plate comprises a tip configured to be disposed facing the rotary component, and at least one intermediate plate slot extending from the stationary component towards the rotary component; 
 at least one annular resistance member configured to be coupled to the stationary component and disposed in the at least one intermediate plate slot in the compliant plates; and 
 one or more rotor slots or grooves located circumferentially on a surface of the rotary component proximate the tip of each of the plurality of compliant plates. 
   
     
     
         16 . The rotary machine of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more rotor slots or grooves are located circumferentially on the surface of the rotary component towards a high pressure side of the rotary machine for allowing the plurality of compliant plates to lift off at low tip clearances with the surface of the rotary component and allowing stability of the plurality of compliant plates during operation of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         17 . The turbo machine of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more rotor slots or grooves are located circumferentially on the surface of the rotary component towards a low pressure side for allowing the plurality of compliant plates to blow-down during large tip clearances with the surface of the rotary component. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a seal assembly for a rotary machine, the method comprising:
 attaching a plurality of compliant plates circumferentially along the stationary component such that the plurality of compliant plates are disposed between the stationary component and a rotary component, wherein each compliant plate comprises a tip configured to be disposed facing the rotary component, and at least one intermediate plate slot extending from the stationary component towards the rotary component;   attaching at least one annular resistance member to the stationary component and disposing in the at least one intermediate plate slot in the compliant plates; and   providing one or more rotor slots or grooves circumferentially located on a surface of the rotary component proximate the tip of each of the plurality of compliant plates.   
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 18 , further comprising providing the one or more rotor slots or grooves on the surface of the rotary component towards a high pressure side for allowing the plurality of compliant plates to lift off at low tip clearances with the surface of the rotary component. 
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 18 , further comprising providing the one or more rotor slots or grooves on the surface of the rotary component towards a low pressure side for allowing the plurality of compliant plates to blow-down during large clearances with the surface of the rotary component.