GPP seal system maintenance, replacement and seismic isolation

1 . A sealing system for a Gravity Power Plant having a shaft ( 104 ) with a shaft wall ( 105 ) and a piston ( 102 ), the sealing system comprising:

a seal assembly support base ( 202 ) anchored into the shaft wall and surrounding the piston;

a seal mount having a radial flange ( 210 ) adapted to anchor the seal mount to the seal assembly support base ( 202 ) and a vertical flange ( 212 ) extending from an inner circumference of the radial flange; and,

a seal assembly ( 206 ) having at least one seal group ( 226 ) circumferentially contacting the piston, the seal assembly incorporating a plurality of circumferentially spaced clamp assemblies ( 227 ) configured to engage the seal assembly to the vertical flange, the plurality of clamp assemblies ( 227 ) having an open position releasing the seal assembly from the vertical flange and a closed position constraining the seal assembly on the vertical flange.

2 . The sealing system as defined in claim 1 wherein the seal assembly further comprises:

a seal carrier ( 220 ) terminating at a top end with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses ( 222 ) wherein the plurality of clamp assemblies ( 227 ) are circumferentially aligned with a respective one of the bosses and each clamp assembly incorporates a clamp ( 228 ) configured to engage a rim ( 214 ) of the vertical flange.

3 . The sealing system as defined in claim 2 wherein each clamp is bolted to the seal carrier with a shoulder bolt ( 230 ) having a threaded barrel ( 234 ) passing through a threaded bore ( 236 ) in the respective one of the bosses, and wherein removal of the bolt from the boss is prevented by an end flange attached to an inner end of the bolt.

4 . The sealing system as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one seal group comprises a plurality of seal groups and further comprising a plurality of guide rings ( 224 ) mounted concentrically in the seal carrier ( 220 ) with one of the plurality of seal groups ( 226 ) supported between vertically adjacent guide rings on a support ring ( 248 ).

5 . The sealing system as defined in claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of seal groups comprises:

a seal ( 240 ) attached to the support ring; and

contact pads ( 246 ) attached to the support ring.

6 . The sealing system as defined in claim 1 wherein, with the plurality of clamp assemblies ( 227 ) in the open position, the seal assembly is movable vertically along an axis of the piston and removed from the seal mount.

7 . The sealing system as defined in claim 6 further comprising a hoist and carriage system ( 300 ) configured to grip an unlocked seal assembly and hoist the seal assembly from the seal mount to a water surface in the shaft.

8 . The sealing system as defined in claim 7 wherein the hoist and carriage system comprises:

a plurality of hoist assemblies ( 302 ) circumferentially spaced about an upper rim ( 304 ) of the shaft;

a plurality of carriages ( 310 ) configured for longitudinal translation in the shaft, each carriage associated with one of the plurality of hoist assemblies and including grippers ( 312 ) that are adjustable on a lower frame element ( 314 ) for radial alignment with the seal assembly ( 206 ) for grabbing the seal assembly.

9 . The sealing system as defined in claim 8 wherein each hoist assembly ( 302 ) includes a cable drum ( 306 ) with one or more cables ( 308 ) that attach to the associated one of the carriages.

10 . The sealing system as defined in claim 9 wherein the one or more cables run over a sheave or pulley block ( 309 ) and then downwardly to attach to the associated one of the carriages.

11 . A method for removal of a seal assembly in a sealing system as defined in claim 8 , the method comprising:

placing the plurality of clamp assemblies ( 227 ) in an open position;

lowering the plurality of carriages to place the grippers in contact with the seal assembly;

gripping the seal assembly with the grippers;

raising the plurality of carriages.

12 . The sealing system as defined in claim 1 wherein the seal assembly support base ( 202 ) has an inner surface ( 424 ) with an inner radius ( 420 ), providing a gap ( 422 ) between the inner surface and a surface ( 103 ) of the piston ( 102 ), and wherein the radial flange ( 410 ) is supported with low friction engagement with respect to the seal assembly support base ( 202 ) and extends inward from the inner surface of the seal assembly support base ( 202 ) with the vertical flange ( 412 ) spaced from the inner surface by a radial relief ( 428 ) within the gap.

13 . The sealing system as defined in claim 12 wherein the radial flange is supported on a lower bearing ( 406 ) supported on a top surface ( 407 ) of the seal assembly support base ( 202 ) proximate the inner surface, with an upper bearing supported in engagement with a top surface ( 411 ) of the radial flange ( 410 ) of the seal mount ( 404 ).

14 . The sealing system as defined in claim 13 wherein the lower bearing comprises a bearing plate ( 406 ) with a very low coefficient of friction and extends in a ring all the way around the seal assembly support base ( 202 ) upper surface ( 408 ) encircling the piston ( 102 ).

15 . The sealing system as defined in claim 14 wherein the upper bearing comprises a plurality of upper bearing plates ( 408 ) mounted on a plurality of braces ( 414 ) strongly anchored to the shaft wall ( 105 ), each of the upper bearing plates ( 408 ) having substantially the same width as the brace normal to the piston circumference.

16 . The sealing system as defined in claim 15 wherein the bearing plate and the plurality of upper bearing plates are fabricated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

17 . The sealing system as defined in claim 14 further comprising a seal ( 426 ) installed below the lower bearing plate ( 406 ) at a top inner edge ( 427 ) of the seal assembly support base ( 202 ) to prevent water intrusion.