Prediction of Stiffness and Damping Coefficients for Centrifugal Compressor Labyrinth Seals

1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 920-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. Wyssmann ◽  
T. C. Pham ◽  
R. J. Jenny

A theory is presented for the calculation of stiffness and damping coefficients of the fluid-rotor interaction in centrifugal compressor labyrinth seals based on turbulent flow calculations. The theory has been confirmed by measurements on labyrinth test stands and on a centrifugal compressor impeller shroud seal at pressures up to 140 bar. Predicted rotor stability limits based on the theory are in agreement with those observed in real compressors.

Author(s):  
Dara W. Childs ◽  
David A. Elrod ◽  
Keith Hale

Test results (leakage and rotordynamic coefficients) are presented for an interlock and tooth-on-stator labyrinth seals. Tests were carried out with air at speeds out to 16,000 cpm and supply pressures up to 7.5 bars. The rotordynamic coefficients consist of direct and cross-coupled stiffness and damping coefficients. Damping-coefficient data have not previously been presented for interlock seals. The test results support the following conclusions: (a) The interlock seal leaks substantially less than labyrinth seals. (b) Destabilizing forces are lower for the interlock seal. (c) The labyrinth seal has substantially greater direct damping values than the interlock seal. A complete rotordynamics analysis is needed to determine which type of seal would yield the best stability predictions for a given turbomachinery unit.


Author(s):  
Manuel Gaszner ◽  
Alexander O. Pugachev ◽  
Christos Georgakis ◽  
Paul Cooper

A brush-labyrinth sealing configuration consisting of two labyrinth fins upstream and one brush seal downstream is studied experimentally and theoretically. Two slightly different brush seal designs with zero cold radial clearance are considered. The sealing configurations are tested on the no-whirl and dynamic test rigs to obtain leakage performance and rotordynamic stiffness and damping coefficients. The no-whirl tests allow identification of the local rotordynamic direct and cross-coupled stiffness coefficients for a wide range of operating conditions, while the dynamic test rig is used to obtain both global stiffness and damping coefficients but for a narrower operating range limited by the capabilities of a magnetic actuator. Modeling of the brush-labyrinth seals is performed using computational fluid dynamics. The experimental global rotordynamic coefficients consist of an aerodynamic component due to the gas flow and a mechanical component due to the contact between the bristle tips and rotor surface. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD)–based calculations of rotordynamic coefficients provide, however, only the aerodynamic component. A simple mechanical model is used to estimate the theoretical value of the mechanical stiffness of the bristle pack during the contact. The results obtained for the sealing configurations with zero cold radial clearance brush seals are compared with available data on three-tooth-on-stator labyrinth seals and a brush seal with positive cold radial clearance. Results show that the sealing arrangement with a line-on-line welded brush seal has the best performance overall with the lowest leakage and cross-coupled stiffness. The predictions are generally in agreement with the measurements for leakage and stiffness coefficients. The seal-damping capability is noticeably underpredicted.


1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Guang ◽  
Wang Shangjin ◽  
Miao Yongmiao

A method for calculating 3–D turbulent flow in a centifugal impeller is developed by solving the incompressible, steady, time averaged N–S equation in general curvilinear coordinates. The K–ε two–equation turbulence model is utilized to describe Reynolds stresses. A calculation scheme is proposed which divides a centrifugal compressor impeller into three calculation zones, i.e. the inlet zone, the channel zone, and the exit–vaneless diffuser zone. A simple and time–saving method for generating 3–D body–fitted coordinate system of a centrifugal impeller is established by means of combining an algebraic transformation with the solution of 2–D elliptic partial differential equations. This method is applied to calculate the turbulent flow in an industrial centrifugal compressor impeller. The tendency of the “jet–wake” formation and growth in the impeller can be clearly seen, and the secondary flow pattern calculated is similar to Eckardt’s measurements. The calculation results at the impeller exit are also in good agreement with the experimental results performed by the authors.


Author(s):  
Anil Singh ◽  
Satish C Sharma

The present work deals with numerical investigation into geometric imperfection (bellmouth, undulation and barrel shape) of the journal on performance of a porous hybrid journal bearing system (PHJBs) operating under turbulent flow condition. The Reynolds equation governing the flow of lubricant in the bearing clearance space is modified by using the turbulent lubrication theory proposed by Constantinescu’s. The bearing performance parameters are numerically computed using FEM. The effects of geometric irregularities, turbulent flow condition, and permeability parameters have been investigated on the performance of PHJBs. The theoretically obtained results indicates that the combined effect of turbulent flow condition and geometric imperfection offers enhanced values of [Formula: see text] and rotor dynamic coefficients (stiffness and damping coefficients).


Author(s):  
Manuel Gaszner ◽  
Alexander O. Pugachev ◽  
Christos Georgakis ◽  
Paul Cooper

A brush-labyrinth sealing configuration consisting of two labyrinth fins upstream and one brush seal downstream is studied experimentally and theoretically. Two slightly different brush seal designs with zero cold radial clearance are considered. The sealing configurations are tested on the no-whirl and dynamic test rigs to obtain leakage performance and rotordynamic stiffness and damping coefficients. The no-whirl tests allow identification of the local rotordynamic direct and cross-coupled stiffness coefficients for a wide range of operating conditions, while the dynamic test rig is used to obtain both global stiffness and damping coefficients, but for a narrower operating range limited by the capabilities of a magnetic actuator. Modeling of the brush-labyrinth seals is performed using computational fluid dynamics. The experimental global rotordynamic coefficients consist of an aerodynamic component due to the gas flow and a mechanical component due to the contact between the bristle tips and rotor surface. The CFD-based calculations of rotordynamic coefficients provide however only the aerodynamic component. A simple mechanical model is used to estimate the theoretical value of the mechanical stiffness of the bristle pack during the contact. The results obtained for the sealing configurations with zero cold radial clearance brush seals are compared with available data on three-tooth-on-stator labyrinth seals and a brush seal with positive cold radial clearance. Results show that the sealing arrangement with a line-on-line welded brush seal has the best performance overall with the lowest leakage and cross-coupled stiffness. The predictions are generally in agreement with the measurements for leakage and stiffness coefficients. The seal damping capability is noticeably underpredicted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 619
Author(s):  
Kostandin Gjika ◽  
Antoine Costeux ◽  
Gerry LaRue ◽  
John Wilson

Today's modern internal combustion engines are increasingly focused on downsizing, high fuel efficiency and low emissions, which requires appropriate design and technology of turbocharger bearing systems. Automotive turbochargers operate faster and with strong engine excitation; vibration management is becoming a challenge and manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the design of low vibration and high-performance balancing technology. This paper discusses the synchronous vibration management of the ball bearing cartridge turbocharger on high-speed balancer and it is a continuation of papers [1–3]. In a first step, the synchronous rotordynamics behavior is identified. A prediction code is developed to calculate the static and dynamic performance of “ball bearing cartridge-squeeze film damper”. The dynamic behavior of balls is modeled by a spring with stiffness calculated from Tedric Harris formulas and the damping is considered null. The squeeze film damper model is derived from the Osborne Reynolds equation for incompressible and synchronous fluid loading; the stiffness and damping coefficients are calculated assuming that the bearing is infinitely short, and the oil film pressure is modeled as a cavitated π film model. The stiffness and damping coefficients are integrated on a rotordynamics code and the bearing loads are calculated by converging with the bearing eccentricity ratio. In a second step, a finite element structural dynamics model is built for the system “turbocharger housing-high speed balancer fixture” and validated by experimental frequency response functions. In the last step, the rotating dynamic bearing loads on the squeeze film damper are coupled with transfer functions and the vibration on the housings is predicted. The vibration response under single and multi-plane unbalances correlates very well with test data from turbocharger unbalance masters. The prediction model allows a thorough understanding of ball bearing turbocharger vibration on a high speed balancer, thus optimizing the dynamic behavior of the “turbocharger-high speed balancer” structural system for better rotordynamics performance identification and selection of the appropriate balancing process at the development stage of the turbocharger.


Author(s):  
Leandro Oliveira Salviano ◽  
Elóy Esteves Gasparin ◽  
Vitor Cesar N. Mattos ◽  
Bruno Barbizan ◽  
Fábio Saltara ◽  
...  

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4292
Author(s):  
Kirill Kabalyk ◽  
Andrzej Jaeschke ◽  
Grzegorz Liśkiewicz ◽  
Michał Kulak ◽  
Tomasz Szydłowski ◽  
...  

The article describes an assessment of possible changes in constant fatigue life of a medium flow-coefficient centrifugal compressor impeller subject to operation at close-to-surge point. Some aspects of duct acoustics are additionally analyzed. The experimental measurements at partial load are presented and are primarily used for validation of unidirectionally coupled fluid-structural numerical model. The model is based on unsteady finite-volume fluid-flow simulations and on finite-element transient structural analysis. The validation is followed by the model implementation to replicate the industry-scale loads with reasonably higher rotational speed and suction pressure. The approach demonstrates satisfactory accuracy in prediction of stage performance and unsteady flow field in vaneless diffuser. The latter is deduced from signal analysis relying on continuous wavelet transformations. On the other hand, it is found that the aerodynamic incidence losses at close-to-surge point are underpredicted. The structural simulation generates considerable amounts of numerical noise, which has to be separated prior to evaluation of fluid-induced dynamic strain. The main source of disturbance is defined as a stationary region of static pressure drop caused by flow contraction at volute tongue and leading to first engine-order excitation in rotating frame of reference. Eventually, it is concluded that the amplitude of excitation is too low to lead to any additional fatigue.


1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. ten Napel ◽  
R. Bosma

In contradistinction to the commonly used segmented three-lobe bearing, another type of bearing, i.e., the sinusoidal three-lobe bearing has been investigated in this paper. The main advantage of this bearing is that it can very easily be manufactured. Special attention has been paid to problems of optimization with regard to minimum film thickness and friction, respectively. Stiffness and damping coefficients have been calculated as well as stability regions and stability parameters. Additionally, the optimum position of the oil grooves has been investigated.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document