scholarly journals An Iwatsubo-Based Solution for Labyrinth Seals: Comparison to Experimental Results

1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Childs ◽  
J. K. Scharrer
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Momentum Equation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
First Order ◽  
Basic Equations ◽  
Separation Of Variable

The basic equations are derived for compressible flow in a labyrinth seal. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the circumferential direction where the friction factor is determined by the Blasius relation. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order pressure distribution is found by satisfying the leakage equation while the circumferential velocity distribution is determined by satisfying the momentum equation. The first-order equations are solved by a separation of variable solution. Integration of the resultant pressure distribution along and around the seal defines the reaction force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients. The results of this analysis are compared to published test results.

scholarly journals Rotordynamic Coefficients for Stepped Labyrinth Gas Seals

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Scharrer
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Parametric Study ◽  
Separation Of Variables ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Zeroth Order ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
First Order ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Gas Seals ◽  
Basic Equations

The basic equations are derived for compressible flow in a stepped labyrinth gas seal. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the circumferential direction where the friction factor is determined by the Blasius relation. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order pressure distribution is found by satisfying the leakage equation while the circumferential velocity distribution is determined by satisfying the momentum equations. The first order equations are solved by a separation of variables solution. Integration of the resultant pressure distribution along and around the seal defines the reaction force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients. The results of this analysis are presented in the form of a parametric study, since there are no known experimental data for the rotordynamic coefficients of stepped labyrinth gas seals. The parametric study investigates the relative rotordynamic stability of convergent, straight and divergent stepped labyrinth gas seals. The results show that, generally, the divergent seal is more stable, rotordynamically, than the straight or convergent seals. The results also show that the teeth-on-stator seals are not always more stable, rotordynamically, then the teeth-on-rotor seals as was shown by experiment by Childs and Scharrer (1986b) for a 15 tooth seal.

Theory Versus Experiment for the Rotordynamic Coefficients of Labyrinth Gas Seals: Part I—A Two Control Volume Model

1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Scharrer
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Wall Friction ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
First Order ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Volume Model ◽  
Gas Seals

The basic equations are derived for a two-control-volume model for compressible flow in a labyrinth seal. The recirculation velocity in the cavity is incorporated into the model for the first time. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent and isoenergetic. The wall friction factors are determined using the Blasius formula. Jet flow theory is used for the calculation of the recirculation velocity in the cavity. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order pressure distribution is found by satisfying the leakage equation while the circumferential velocity distribution is determined by satisfying the momentum equations. The first-order equations are solved by a separation of variable solution. Integration of the resultant pressure distribution along and around the seal defines the reaction force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients.

The Effects of Fixed Rotor Tilt on the Rotordynamic Coefficients of Incompressible Flow Annular Seals

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 336-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Scharrer ◽  
N. Rubin ◽  
C. C. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Order Continuity ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
First Order ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Arbitrary Position ◽  
Basic Equations ◽  
Perturbation Pressure

The basic equations are derived for incompressible flow in an annular seal with large rotor tilt. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the axial and circumferential directions with no separation, and is modeled by Moody’s friction factor equation. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about an arbitrary position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order continuity and momentum equations are solved using a Fast Fourier technique, yielding the axial and circumferential velocity components and the pressure distribution. The first-order equations are integrated to satisfy the boundary conditions and yield the perturbation pressure distribution. This resultant pressure distribution is integrated along and around the seal to yield the force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients. Results of a parametric study show that the detrimental effects of a tilted rotor are small.

Rotordynamic Coefficients for Partially Tapered Annular Seals: Part I—Incompressible Flow

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Scharrer ◽  
C. C. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Order Continuity ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
First Order ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Dynamic Coefficients ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Complex Differential Equations ◽  
Basic Equations

The basic equations are derived for incompressible flow in an annular seal with a partially tapered clearance. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the axial and circumferential directions with no separation, and is modeled by Hirs’ turbulent lubrication equations. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order continuity and momentum equations are solved exactly, yielding the axial and circumferential velocity components and the pressure distribution. The first-order equations are reduced to three ordinary, complex, differential equations in the axial coordinate Z. The equations are integrated to satisfy the boundary conditions and yield the perturbation pressure distribution. This resultant pressure distribution is integrated along and around the seal to yield the force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients. Since no component test data exist for this type of seal, the results of a parametric study on the effect of the taper length/total length ratio on the seal leakage and rotor-dynamic coefficients are presented.

Rotordynamic Coefficients for Partially Tapered Annular Seals: Part II—Compressible Flow

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
J. K. Scharrer ◽  
C. C. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Compressible Flow ◽  
Order Continuity ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
First Order ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Component Test ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Complex Differential Equations ◽  
Basic Equations

The basic equations are derived for compressible flow in an annular seal with a partially tapered clearance. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the axial and circumferential directions with no separation, and is modeled by Moody’s equation for roughness. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order continuity and momentum equations are solved exactly, yielding the axial and circumferential velocity components and the pressure distribution. The first-order equations are reduced to three ordinary, complex, differential equations in the axial coordinate Z. The equations are integrated to satisfy the boundary conditions and yield the perturbation pressure distribution. This resultant pressure distribution is integrated along and around the seal to yield the force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients. Since no component test data exist for this type of seal, the results of a parametric study on the effect of the taper length/seal length ratio on the seal leakage and rotordynamic coefficients are presented.

Rotordynamic Coefficients for Partially Roughened Pump Annular Seals

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Scharrer ◽  
C. C. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Zeroth Order ◽  
Linear Complex ◽  
Order Continuity ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
Axial Coordinate ◽  
First Order ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Basic Equations

The basic equations are derived for incompressible flow in an annular seal with partially roughened surfaces. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the axial and circumferential directions with no separation, and is modeled by Hirs’ turbulent lubrication equations. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order continuity and momentum equations are solved numerically, yielding the axial and circumferential velocity components and the pressure distribution. The first-order equations are reduced to three linear, complex, ordinary, differential equations in the axial coordinate Z. The equations are integrated to satisfy the boundary conditions and yield the perturbated pressure distribution. This resultant pressure distribution is integrated along and around the seal to yield the force developed by the seal from which the corresponding dynamic coefficients are derived. The results of a parametric study on the effect of the rough length/smooth length ratio on the seal leakage and rotordynamic coefficients are presented.

scholarly journals Rotordynamic Coefficients for Partially Roughened Annular Gas Seals

1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Scharrer ◽  
Clay C. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Order Continuity ◽  
Small Motion ◽  
First Order ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Complex Differential Equations ◽  
Gas Seals ◽  
Basic Equations ◽  
Perturbation Pressure

The basic equations are derived for compressible flow in an annular seal with partially roughened surfaces. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the axial and circumferential directions with no separation, and is modeled by Moody’s equation for roughness. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order continuity and momentum equations are solved exactly, yielding the axial and circumferential velocity components and the pressure distribution. The first-order equations are reduced to three ordinary, complex, differential equations in the axial coordinate Z. The equations are integrated to satisfy the boundary conditions and yield the perturbation pressure distribution. This resultant pressure distribution is integrated along and around the seal to yield the force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients. Since no test data exist for this type of seal, the results of a parametric study on the effect of the rough length/smooth length ratio on the seal leakage and rotordynamic coefficients is presented.

scholarly journals Rotordynamic Coefficient and Leakage Test Results for Interlock and Tooth-on-Stator Labyrinth Seals

1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara W. Childs ◽  
David A. Elrod ◽  
Keith Hale
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Damping Coefficient ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Leakage Test ◽  
Stiffness And Damping ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficient

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.

Labyrinth Seal Leakage Tests: Tooth Profile, Tooth Thickness, and Eccentricity Effects

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed J. M. Gamal ◽  
John M. Vance
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Blade Profile ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Seal Design ◽  
Blade Thickness ◽  
Center Position ◽  
Blade Tip

The effects of two seal design parameters, namely blade (tooth) thickness and blade profile, on labyrinth seal leakage, as well as the effect of operating a seal in an off-center position, were examined through a series of nonrotating tests. Two reconfigurable seal designs were used, which enabled testing of two-, four-, and six-bladed see-through labyrinth seals with different geometries using the same sets of seal blades. Leakage and cavity pressure measurements were made on each of 23 seal configurations with a in.(101.6mm) diameter journal. Tests were carried out with air as the working fluid at supply pressures of up to 100psia (6.89bar). Experimental results showed that doubling the thickness of the labyrinth blades significantly influenced leakage, reducing the flow rate through the seals by up to 20%. Tests to determine the effect of blade-tip profile produced more equivocal results, with the results of experiments using each of the two test seal designs contradicting each other. Tests on one set of hardware indicated that beveling blades on the downstream side was most effective in limiting leakage, whereas tests on newer hardware with tighter clearances indicated that seals with flat-tipped blades were superior. The test results illustrated that both blade profile and blade thickness could be manipulated so as to reduce seal leakage. However, an examination of the effects of both factors together indicated that the influence of one of these parameters can, to some extent, negate the influence of the other (especially in cases with tighter clearances). finally, for all configurations tested, results showed that leakage through a seal increases with increased eccentricity and that this phenomenon was considerably more pronounced at lower supply pressures.

Rotordynamic Performance of a Negative-Swirl Brake for a Tooth-on-Stator Labyrinth Seal

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara W. Childs ◽  
James E. Mclean ◽  
Min Zhang ◽  
Stephen P. Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Stiffness Coefficients ◽  
Shaft Rotation ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Inlet Conditions ◽  
The Stability

In the late 1970s, Benckert and Wachter (Technical University Stuttgart) tested labyrinth seals using air as the test media and measured direct and cross-coupled stiffness coefficients. They reported the following results: (1) fluid preswirl in the direction of shaft rotation creates destabilizing cross-coupled stiffness coefficients and (2) effective swirl brakes at the inlet to the seal can markedly reduce the cross-coupled stiffness coefficients, in many cases reducing them to zero. In recent years, “negative-swirl” swirl brakes have been employed, which attempt to reverse the circumferential direction of inlet flow, changing the sign of the cross-coupled stiffness coefficients and creating stabilizing stiffness forces. This study presents test results for a 16-tooth labyrinth seal with positive inlet preswirl (in the direction of shaft rotation) for the following inlet conditions: (1) no swirl brakes, (2) straight, conventional swirl brakes, and (3) negative-swirl swirl brakes. The negative-swirl swirl-brake designs were developed based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions. Tests were conducted at 10.2, 15.35, and 20.2 krpm with 70 bar of inlet pressure for pressure ratios of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5. Test results include leakage and rotordynamic coefficients. In terms of leakage, the negative-swirl brake configuration leaked the least, followed by the conventional brake, followed by the no-brake design. Normalized to the negative-swirl brake configuration, the conventional-brake and no-brake configurations mass flow rate was greater, respectively, by factors of 1.04 and 1.09. The direct-stiffness coefficients are negative but small, consistent with past experience. The conventional swirl brake drops the destabilizing cross-coupled stiffness coefficients k by a factor of about 0.8 as compared to the no-brake results. The negative-swirl brake produces a change in sign of k with an appreciable magnitude; hence, the stability of forward precessing modes would be enhanced. In descending order, the direct-damping coefficients C are: no-swirl, negative-swirl, and conventional-swirl. Normalized in terms of the no-swirl case, C for the negative and conventional brake designs is, respectively, 0.7 and 0.6 smaller. The effective damping Ceff combines the effect of k and C. Ceff is large and positive for the negative-swirl configuration and near zero for the no-brake and conventional-brake designs. The present results for a negative-brake design are very encouraging for both eye-packing seals (where conventional swirl brakes have been previously employed) and division-wall and balance-piston seals, where negative shunt injection has been employed.

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