Clearance Effects on Corresponding Annular and Labyrinth Seal Flow Leakage Characteristics

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Rhode ◽  
R. I. Hibbs
Keyword(s):  
Computer Code ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Momentum Conservation ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Swirl Velocity ◽  
Small Clearance ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Annular Seals

A previous Navier-Stokes finite difference computer code is extended in order to compute seal leakage directly from given upstream and downstream reservoir pressures. The numerical results are in excellent agreement with previous measurements, the discrepancy being less than eight percent. Annular seals are found to leak approximately twenty percent more than corresponding labyrinths over the entire range of realistic clearance. A rather unexpected finding is that a dramatic increase of swirl velocity occurs near the discharge of small-clearance annular seals, which does not arise in corresponding labyrinth seals. The results, which are used to explain this finding, show that a large density drop occurs near the small-clearance annular seal exit, which provides the swirl velocity increase in accordance with angular momentum conservation.

scholarly journals A Comparative Investigation of Corresponding Annular and Labyrinth Seal Flowfields

1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Rhode ◽  
R. I. Hibbs
Keyword(s):  
Computer Code ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Momentum Conservation ◽  
Comparative Investigation ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Swirl Velocity ◽  
Small Clearance ◽  
Annular Seal

A previous Navier-Stokes finite difference computer code is extended in order to compute seal leakage directly from given upstream and downstream reservoir pressures. The numerical results are in excellent agreement with previous measurements, the discrepancy being less than eight percent. Annual seals are found to leak approximately twenty percent more than corresponding labyrinths over the entire range of realistic clearance. A rather unexpected finding is that a dramatic increase of swirl velocity occurs near the discharge of small clearance annular seals, which does not arise in corresponding labyrinth seals. The results, which are used to explain this finding, show that a large density drop occurs near the small clearance annular seal exit, which provides the swirl velocity increase in accordance with angular momentum conservation.

Effects of Pressure Ratio and Sealing Clearance on Leakage Flow Characteristics in the Rotating Honeycomb Labyrinth Seal

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Xin Yan ◽  
Guojun Li ◽  
Zhenping Feng
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Flow Losses ◽  
Leakage Flow Rate ◽  
Swirl Velocity

Honeycomb stepped labyrinth seals in turbomachinery enhance aerodynamic efficiency by reducing leakage flow losses through the clearance between rotating and stationary components. The influence of pressure ratio and sealing clearance on the leakage flow characteristics in the honeycomb stepped labyrinth seal is numerically determined. The geometries investigated represent designs of the honeycomb labyrinth seal typical for modern turbomachinery. The leakage flow fields in the honeycomb and smooth stepped labyrinth seals are obtained by the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solution using the commercial software FLUENT. Numerical simulations covered a range of pressure ratio and three sizes of sealing clearance for the honeycomb and smooth stepped labyrinth seals. The numerical discharge coefficients of the non-rotating honeycomb and smooth stepped labyrinth seals are in good agreement with previous experimental data. In addition rotational effects are also taken into account in numerical computations. The numerical results show that the leakage flow rate increases with the increasing pressure ratio at the fixed sealing clearance for the rotating and non-rotating honeycomb labyrinth seal. The influence of the sealing clearance on the leakage flow pattern for the rotating and non-rotating honeycomb labyrinth seal are observed. Moreover, the similar leakage flow rates are obtained at the same flow condition between the rotating and non-rotating honeycomb labyrinth seal due to the honeycomb acts to kill swirl velocity development for the rotating honeycomb labyrinth seal.

Hybrid Brush Pocket Damper Seals for Turbomachinery

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector E. Laos ◽  
John M. Vance ◽  
Steven E. Buchanan
Keyword(s):  
Active Vibration Control ◽  
Design Feature ◽  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Rotating Shaft ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Brush Seal

Pocket damper seals perform a dual function: both sealing the pressurized gas around a rotating shaft and providing large amounts of vibration damping. The annular cavity between the labyrinth seal teeth is subdivided into separate annular cavities around the circumference of the rotor by partitioning walls. Also, the upstream and downstream teeth have different radial clearances to the rotor. These seals have been shown to provide a remarkable amount of direct damping to attenuate vibration in turbomachinery, but they generally leak more than conventional labyrinth seals if both seals have the same minimum clearance. Conversely, brush seals allow less than half the leakage of labyrinth seals, but published test results show no significant amount of damping. They are considered to be a primary choice for the seals in new aircraft engine designs because of their low leakage. This paper will describe a recently invented hybrid brush/pocket damper seal that combines high damping with low leakage. Previous brush seal results were studied and calculations were made to select a brush seal to combine with the pocket damper design. The result is a hybrid seal with high damping and low leakage. A special design feature can also allow active vibration control as a bonus benefit. A computer code written for the original pocket damper seal was modified to include the brush element at the exit blade. Results from the computer code indicate that the hybrid seal can have less leakage than a six bladed (or 6 knives) labyrinth seal along with orders of magnitude more damping. Experimental evaluations of the damping and leakage performance of the hybrid seal are being conducted by the authors. The experimental work reported here tested the damping capability of the new hybrid brush seal by exciting the seal journal through an impedance head. A conventional six-bladed labyrinth seal of the same working dimensions was also tested. The brush hybrid pocket damper seal is found to leak less than the labyrinth seal while producing two to three times more damping than the original pocket damper seal (orders of magnitude more than the conventional labyrinth). [S0742-4795(00)01102-9]

Numerical Modeling of Static and Rotordynamic Characteristics for Three Types of Helically Grooved Liquid Annular Seals

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhigang Li ◽  
Zhi Fang ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Zhenping Feng
Keyword(s):  
Perturbation Method ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Force Coefficients ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Curve Fit ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Frequency Independent ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Multiple Reference ◽  
Annular Seals

Abstract This paper deals with numerical predictions of the leakage flowrates, drag power, and rotordynamic force coefficients for three types of helically grooved liquid annular seals, which include a liquid annular seal with helically grooved stator (GS/SR seal), one with helically grooved rotor (SS/GR seal), and one with helical grooves on stator and rotor (GS/GR seal). A novel transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based perturbation method was proposed for the predictions of the leakage flowrates, drag power, and rotordynamic force coefficients of helically grooved liquid annular seals. This method is based on the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solution with the mesh-deformation technique and the multiple reference frame theory. The time-varying fluid-induced forces acting on the rotor/stator surface were obtained as a response to the time-dependent perturbation of the seal stator surface with the periodic motion, based on the multiple-frequency elliptical-orbit stator whirling model. The frequency-independent rotordynamic force coefficients were determined using curve fit and fast Fourier transform (FFT) in the frequency domain. The CFD-based method was adequately validated by comparisons with the published experiment data of leakage flowrates and fluid response forces for three types of helically grooved liquid annular seals. Based on the transient CFD-based perturbation method, numerical results of the leakage flowrates, drag powers, and rotordynamic force coefficients were presented and compared for three types of helically grooved liquid annular seals at five rotational speeds (n = 0.5 krpm, 1.0 krpm, 2.0 krpm, 3.0 krpm, and 4.0 krpm), paying special attention to the effective stiffness coefficient and effective damping coefficient.

Hybrid Brush Pocket Damper Seals for Turbomachinery

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector E. Laos ◽  
John M. Vance ◽  
Steven E. Buchanan
Keyword(s):  
Active Vibration Control ◽  
Design Feature ◽  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Rotating Shaft ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Brush Seal

Pocket damper seals perform a dual function: both sealing the pressurized gas around a rotating shaft and providing large amounts of vibration damping. The annular cavity between the labyrinth seal teeth is subdivided into separate annular cavities around the circumference of the rotor by partitioning walls. Also, the upstream and downstream teeth have different radial clearances to the rotor. These seals have been shown to provide a remarkable amount of direct damping to attenuate vibration in turbomachinery, but they generally leak more than conventional labyrinth seals if both seals have the same minimum clearance. Conversely, brush seals allow less than half the leakage of labyrinth seals, but published test results show no significant amount of damping. They are considered to be a primary choice for the seals in new aircraft engine designs because of their low leakage. This paper will describe a recently invented hybrid brush/pocket damper seal that combines high damping with low leakage. Previous brush seal results were studied and calculations were made to select a brush seal to combine with the pocket damper design. The result is a hybrid seal with high damping and low leakage. A special design feature can also allow active vibration control as a bonus benefit. A computer code written for the original pocket damper seal was modified to include the brush element at the exit blade. Results from the computer code indicate that the hybrid seal can have less leakage than a six bladed (or 6 knives) labyrinth seal along with orders of magnitude more damping. Experimental evaluations of the damping and leakage performance of the hybrid seal are being conducted by the authors. The experimental work reported here tested the damping capability of the new hybrid brush seal by exciting the seal journal through an impedance head. A conventional six-bladed labyrinth seal of the same working dimensions was also tested. The brush hybrid pocket damper seal is found to leak less than the labyrinth seal while producing two to three times more damping than the original pocket damper seal, (orders of magnitude more than the conventional labyrinth).

Predicted Effects of Bearing Sump and Injection Pressures on Oil Labyrinth Leakage

2002 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 316-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-Y. Park ◽  
D. L. Rhode
Keyword(s):  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Vapor Flow ◽  
Buffer Gas ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Process Gas ◽  
New Information ◽  
Wide Range

New information and an enhanced understanding concerning the oil vapor contaminant leaking through nonflooded oil labyrinth seals are provided. The results were obtained using a finite volume Navier-Stokes computer code that was extended to include the concentration transport equation. The minimum (i.e., critical) pressure and flow rate at which uncontaminated buffer gas must be injected to prevent oil vapor from leaking to the process gas was determined for a range of seal geometries and operating conditions. It was found that the variation of the critical buffer-gas injection pressure with bearing gas and process gas pressures, for example, was surprisingly small for the cases considered. In addition, the bearing gas and oil vapor flow rates for a wide range of bearing and injection (where present) pressures and geometries were determined for both buffered as well as nonbuffered seals.

Prediction of Incompressible Flow in Labyrinth Seals

1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Rhode ◽  
J. A. Demko ◽  
U. K. Traegner ◽  
G. L. Morrison ◽  
S. R. Sobolik
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Rate ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Cpu Time ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Good Agreement

A new approach was developed and tested for alleviating the substantial convergence difficulty which results from implementation of the QUICK differencing scheme into a TEACH-type computer code. It is relatively simple, and the resulting CPU time and number of numerical iterations required to obtain a solution compare favorably with a previously recommended method. This approach has been employed in developing a computer code for calculating the pressure drop for a specified incompressible flow leakage rate in a labyrinth seal. The numerical model is widely applicable and does not require an estimate of the kinetic energy carry-over coefficient for example, whose value is often uncertain. Good agreement with measurements is demonstrated for both straight-through and stepped labyrinths. These new detailed results are examined, and several suggestions are offered for the advancement of simple analytical leakage as well as rotordynamic stability models.

The Prediction and Measurement of Incompressible Flow in a Labyrinth Seal

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Demko ◽  
G. L. Morrison ◽  
D. L. Rhode
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Computer Data ◽  
Computer Data Acquisition ◽  
Swirl Velocity ◽  
Hot Film

Predictions and measurements were obtained for incompressible flow in a labyrinth seal for Taylor numbers of 0, 7,600, and 19,000 at an axial Reynolds number near 50,000. A hot-film anemometer with computer data acquisition was used in obtaining the measurements. The computations were made using a turbulent flow Navier-Stokes finite difference code. The QUICK differencing scheme was utilized in order to diminish false diffusion. Comparison between experiments and predictions are given for the axial and swirl velocity components and turbulent kinetic energy. Also, the substantial effect of the Taylor number on the pressure distribution is presented.

scholarly journals Experimental Study of the Static and Dynamic Characteristics of a Long (L/D = 0.75) Labyrinth Annular Seal Operating Under Two-Phase (Liquid/Gas) Conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hari Shrestha ◽  
Dara W. Childs ◽  
Dung L. Tran ◽  
Min Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Silicone Oil ◽  
Dynamic Stiffness ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Gas Volume

AbstractA two-phase annular-seal stand at the Turbomachinery Laboratory of Texas A&M University is utilized to experimentally investigate a labyrinth seal operating under two-phase flow conditions (a mixture of silicone oil and air). A long labyrinth seal (length-to-diameter ratio L/D = 0.75, diameter D = 114.729 mm, and radial clearance Cr = 0.213 mm) is tested at a supply pressure of 62 bars-g with inlet gas volume fraction GVFi ranging from 90 to 100%. Tests were conducted at three pressure ratios PR (0.3, 0.4, 0.5), three rotating speeds (5, 10, 15 krpm), six GVFi (90%, 92%, 94%, 96%, 98%, and 100%), and three inlet-preswirl inserts, namely, zero, medium, and high. Specifically, the ratio between the fluid's circumferential velocity and the shaft surface's velocity are in ranges of 0.0–0.2, 0.5–1.6, and 0.5–2.7 for the zero, medium, and high preswirls respectively. The direct dynamic stiffness KΩ is negative. As GVFi decreases (more liquid), KΩ becomes more negative for the zero preswirl. The effect of changing GVFi on KΩ for the medium and high preswirls is not as clear as for the zero preswirl. For the zero preswirl, as GVFi decreases, the cross-coupled dynamic stiffness kΩ and direct damping C damping increase. However, the effective damping Ceff values converge to almost the same positive value for higher frequencies. Hence, there is no significant effect of change in GVFi for the zero preswirl. For the high preswirl, as GVFi decreases, kΩ decreases and C increases. As GVFi decreases, Ceff becomes less negative and eventually becomes positive for frequencies higher than Ωc. This result indicates that at certain frequencies, the presence of liquid can make the labyrinth seals with high preswirl more stable. For the seal tested, a compressor running at 15 krpm and PR (ratio of seal exit pressure and seal inlet pressure) = 0.5 with the first critical speed of 7500 rpm (125 Hz) would experience an increase in stability with presence of liquid in the flow stream for the medium and high preswirls. However, for the range of GVFi considered here, if swirl brakes are used in a compressor application to reduce the preswirl, there would be no impact of liquid presence on the stability of the compressor. Concerning static measurements, leakage rate m˙ increases with decreases in GVFi but remains unchanged with increasing preswirl.

Effective Clearance And Differential Gapping Impact on Seal Flutter Modelling and Validation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roque Corral ◽  
Michele Greco ◽  
Almudena Vega
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Theoretical Support ◽  
Gap Ratio ◽  
Flutter Analysis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cv Model ◽  
Additional Loss

Abstract This paper presents an update of the model derived by Corral and Vega (2018, “Conceptual Flutter Analysis of Labyrinth Seal Using Analytical Models. Part I - Theoretical Support”, ASME J. of Turbomach., 140 (12), pp. 121006) for labyrinth seal flutter stability, providing a method of accounting for the effect of dissimilar gaps. The original CV model was intended as a conceptual model for understanding the effect of different geometric parameters on the seal stability comprehensively, providing qualitative trends for seal flutter stability. However, the quantitative evaluation of seal flutter, and the comparison of the CV model with detailed unsteady numerical simulations or experimental data, require including additional physics. The kinetic energy generated in the inlet gap is not dissipated entirely in the inter-fin cavity of straight-through labyrinth seals, and part is recovered in the downstream knife. This mechanism needs to be retained in the seal flutter model. It is concluded that when the theoretical gaps are identical, the impact of the recovery factor on the seal stability can be high. The sensitivity of the seal stability to large changes in the outlet to inlet gap ratio is high as well. It is concluded that fin variations due to rubbing or wearing inducing inlet gaps more open than the exit gaps lead to an additional loss of stability concerning the case of identical gaps. The agreement between the updated model and 3D linearized Navier-Stokes simulations is excellent when the model is informed with data coming from steady RANS simulations of the seal.

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