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EP-4736981-A1 - IMPELLER ROTOR SEAL RUNNER WITH DIVERGENT GUIDE SURFACE

EP4736981A1EP 4736981 A1EP4736981 A1EP 4736981A1EP-4736981-A1

Abstract

An apparatus (20) for an aircraft powerplant includes an impeller rotor (30) and a seal runner (118). The impeller rotor (30) includes a plurality of fluid circuits (106). Each of the fluid circuits (106) includes a first outlet passage (110), a second outlet passage (112) and an inlet passage (108) fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage (110) and the second outlet passage (112) in parallel. The seal runner (118) includes a bore (132), an inner guide surface (144) and an outer land surface (156). The seal runner (118) extends circumferentially about the axis (44) and radially between the inner guide surface (144) and the outer land surface (156). The bore (132) is fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage (110) of each fluid circuit (106). The inner guide surface (144) forms a radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore (132). The inner guide surface (144) radially diverges away from the axis (44) as the inner guide surface (144) extends axially away from the impeller rotor (30) and to a distal end (136) of the seal runner (118).

Inventors

  • BAKER-OSTIGUY, Simon
  • LABBE, MICHEL
  • GIGNAC, STEPHANE

Assignees

  • PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251103

Claims (15)

  1. An apparatus (20) for an aircraft powerplant, comprising: an impeller rotor (30) configured to rotate about an axis (44), the impeller rotor (30) including a plurality of fluid circuits (106) arranged circumferentially about the axis (44) within the impeller rotor (30), and each of the plurality of fluid circuits (106) including a first outlet passage (110), a second outlet passage (112) and an inlet passage (108) fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage (110) and the second outlet passage (112) in parallel; and a seal runner (118) connected to and rotatable with the impeller rotor (30), the seal runner (118) including a bore (132), an inner guide surface (144) and an outer land surface (156), the seal runner (118) extending circumferentially about the axis (44) and radially between the inner guide surface (144) and the outer land surface (156), the bore (132) fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage (110) of each of the plurality of fluid circuits (106), the inner guide surface (144) forming a radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore (132), and the inner guide surface (144) radially diverging away from the axis (44) as the inner guide surface (144) extends axially away from the impeller rotor (30) and to a distal end (136) of the seal runner (118).
  2. The apparatus (20) of claim 1, wherein the inner guide surface (144) is a frustoconical surface.
  3. The apparatus (20) of claim 1 or 2, wherein a slope of the inner guide surface (144) has a radial rise and an axial run where the axial run is greater than the radial rise.
  4. The apparatus (20) of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the inner guide surface (144) is angularly offset from the axis (44) by an angle less than fifteen degrees.
  5. The apparatus (20) of any preceding claim, wherein an axial length (148) of the inner guide surface (144) is equal to or greater than one-third of an axial length (150) of the seal runner (118).
  6. The apparatus (20) of any preceding claim, wherein the seal runner (118) includes a sidewall (126) and an endwall (130); the sidewall (126) projects axially out from the endwall (130) to the distal end (136) of the seal runner (118), the sidewall (126) includes the inner guide surface (144), the outer land surface (156) and a plurality of ports (134), each of the plurality of ports (134) extends radially through the sidewall (126), and each of the plurality of ports (134) fluidly couples the first outlet passage (110) of at least one of the plurality of fluid circuits (106) to the bore (132); and the bore (132) extends axially along the sidewall (126) to the endwall (130).
  7. The apparatus (20) of claim 6, wherein the sidewall (126) further includes an inner base surface (142) angularly offset from the inner guide surface (144), and each of the plurality of ports (134) pierces the inner base surface (142), or wherein the seal runner (118) further includes an inner base surface (142) axially adjacent the inner guide surface (144), and the inner base surface (142) further forms another radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore (132), each of the plurality of ports (134) pierces the inner base surface (142), and an axial length (148) of the inner guide surface (144) is equal to or greater than an axial length (146) of the inner base surface (142).
  8. The apparatus (20) of claim 7, wherein the inner base surface (142) is a cylindrical surface.
  9. The apparatus (20) of claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the seal runner (118) further includes a rim (128) projecting radially out from the sidewall (126) to an outer end (164) of the rim (128); the rim (128) is seated in a recess (204) in the impeller rotor (30); and the rim (128) comprises a flat (166) disposed at the outer end (164) of the rim (128) and configured to engage a flat (166) of the impeller rotor (30).
  10. The apparatus (20) of claim 9, wherein the outer end (164) of the rim (128) has a polygonal cross-sectional geometry in a reference plane perpendicular to the axis (44).
  11. The apparatus (20) of claim 9 or 10, wherein the recess (204) has a polygonal cross-sectional geometry in a reference plane perpendicular to the axis (44).
  12. The apparatus (20) of any preceding claim, wherein the seal runner (118) is mechanically attached to the impeller rotor (30).
  13. The apparatus (20) of any preceding claim, further comprising a lip seal (120) circumscribing and radially sealingly engaging the outer land surface (156).
  14. The apparatus (20) of any preceding claim, wherein the impeller rotor (30) includes a vane structure (80) and a shroud (78) circumscribing the vane structure (80); the vane structure (80) includes a first sidewall (102), a second sidewall (104) and a plurality of vanes (100) arranged circumferentially about the axis (44); and each of the plurality of vanes (100) comprises an inlet vane portion radially between the second sidewall (104) and the shroud (78), the inlet vane portion forming a side of the inlet passage (108) of a respective one of the plurality of fluid circuits (106); a first outlet vane portion axially between the first sidewall (102) and the second sidewall (104), the first outlet vane portion forming a side of the first outlet passage (110) of a respective one of the plurality of fluid circuits (106); and a second outlet vane portion radially between the first sidewall (102) and the shroud (78), the second outlet vane portion forming a side of the second outlet passage (112) of a respective one of the plurality of fluid circuits (106).
  15. The apparatus (20) of any preceding claim, wherein the impeller rotor (30) comprises a deaerator impeller rotor (30).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to an aircraft powerplant and, more particularly, to an impeller rotor for the aircraft powerplant. BACKGROUND INFORMATION An aircraft powerplant such as a gas turbine engine may include a deaerator for separating a fluid into its liquid and gas components. Various types and configurations of deaerators are known in the art. While these known deaerators have various benefits, there is still room in the art for improvement. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for an aircraft powerplant. This apparatus includes an impeller rotor and a seal runner. The impeller rotor is configured to rotate about an axis. The impeller rotor includes a plurality of fluid circuits arranged circumferentially about the axis within the impeller rotor. Each of the fluid circuits includes a first outlet passage, a second outlet passage and an inlet passage fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage and the second outlet passage in parallel. The seal runner is connected to and rotatable with the impeller rotor. The seal runner includes a bore, an inner guide surface and an outer land surface. The seal runner extends circumferentially about the axis and radially between the inner guide surface and the outer land surface. The bore is fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage of each of the fluid circuits. The inner guide surface forms a radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore. The inner guide surface radially diverges away from the axis as the inner guide surface extends axially away from the impeller rotor and to a distal end of the seal runner. According to another aspect of the present invention, another apparatus is provided for an aircraft powerplant. This apparatus includes an impeller rotor and a seal runner. The impeller rotor is configured to rotate about an axis. The impeller rotor includes a plurality of fluid circuits arranged circumferentially about the axis within the impeller rotor. Each of the fluid circuits includes a first outlet passage, a second outlet passage and an inlet passage fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage and the second outlet passage in parallel. The seal runner projects axially out from the impeller rotor to a distal end of the seal runner. The seal runner includes a bore, a plurality of ports, an inner guide surface and an outer land surface. The seal runner extends circumferentially about the axis and radially between the inner guide surface and the outer land surface. Each of the ports fluidly couples the first outlet passage of at least one of the fluid circuits to the bore. The inner guide surface forms a radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore. The inner guide surface radially diverges away from the axis as the inner guide surface extends axially away from the impeller rotor. The inner guide surface is angularly offset from the axis by an angle less than fifteen degrees. According to still another aspect of the present invention, another apparatus is provided for an aircraft powerplant. This apparatus includes an impeller rotor, a seal runner and a lip seal. The impeller rotor is configured to rotate about an axis. The impeller rotor includes a plurality of fluid circuits arranged circumferentially about the axis within the impeller rotor. Each of the fluid circuits includes a first outlet passage, a second outlet passage and an inlet passage fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage and the second outlet passage in parallel. The seal runner projects axially out from the impeller rotor to a distal end of the seal runner. The seal runner includes a bore, a plurality of ports, an inner guide surface and an outer land surface. The seal runner extends circumferentially about the axis and radially between the inner guide surface and the outer land surface. Each of the ports fluidly couples the first outlet passage of at least one of the fluid circuits to the bore. The inner guide surface forms a radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore. The inner guide surface radially diverges away from the axis as the inner guide surface extends axially away from the impeller rotor. The lip seal circumscribes and radially sealingly engages the outer land surface. The lip seal axially overlaps the inner guide surface. In an embodiment of the above, the inner guide surface may extend axially to the distal end of the seal runner. In an embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the seal runner may also include an inner base surface parallel with the axis. The inner base surface may also form another radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore. Each of the ports pierces the inner base surface. In an embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the seal runner may also include an inner base surface axially adjacent the inner guide surface. The inner base surface may also form another radial outer peripheral boundary of the bore. Each of the ports may pierce the inner base sur