scholarly journals Comparison of Hirs’ Equation With Moody’s Equation for Determining Rotordynamic Coefficients of Annular Pressure Seals

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Nelson ◽  
D. T. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Relative Roughness ◽  
Direct Stiffness ◽  
Pressure Seal

The rotordynamic coefficients of an incompressible-flow annular pressure seal were determined using a bulk-flow model in conjunction with two different friction factor relationships. The first, Hirs’ equation, assumes the friction factor is a function of Reynolds number only. The second, Moody’s equation, approximates Moody’s diagram and assumes the friction factor is a function of both Reynolds number and relative roughness. For each value of relative roughness, Hirs’ constants were determined so that both equations gave the same magnitude and slope of the friction factor. For smooth seals, both relationships give the same results. For rough seals (e/2H0 = 0.05) Moody’s equation predicts 44 percent greater direct stiffness, 35 percent greater cross-coupled stiffness, 19 percent smaller cross-coupled damping, 59 percent smaller cross-coupled inertia, and nominally the same direct damping and direct inertia.

A Comparison of Rotordynamic-Coefficient Predictions for Annular Honeycomb Gas Seals Using Three Different Friction-Factor Models

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 524-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan J. D’Souza ◽  
Dara W. Childs
Keyword(s):  
Friction Factor ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficient

A two-control-volume bulk-flow model is used to predict rotordynamic coefficients for an annular, honeycomb-stator/smooth-rotor gas seal. The bulk-flow model uses Hirs’ turbulent-lubrication model, which requires a friction factor model to define the shear stresses at the rotor and stator wall. Rotordynamic coefficients predictions are compared for the following three variations of the Blasius pipe-friction model: (i) a basic model where the Reynolds number is a linear function of the local clearance, fs=ns Rems (ii) a model where the coefficient is a function of the local clearance, and (iii) a model where both the coefficient and exponent are functions of the local clearance. The latter models are based on data that shows the friction factor increasing with increasing clearances. Rotordynamic-coefficient predictions shows that the friction-factor-model choice is important in predicting the effective-damping coefficients at a lower frequency range (60∼70 Hz) where industrial centrifugal compressors and steam turbines tend to become unstable. At a higher frequency range, irrespective of the friction-factor model, the rotordynamic-coefficient predictions tend to coincide. Blasius-based Models which directly account for the observed increase in stator friction factors with increasing clearance predict significantly lower values for the destabilizing cross-coupled stiffness coefficients.

A Computational Fluid Dynamics Modified Bulk Flow Analysis for Circumferentially Shallow Grooved Liquid Seals

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Tingcheng Wu ◽  
Hideaki Maeda ◽  
Ono Tomoki
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Rotor Speed ◽  
Force Coefficients ◽  
Annular Seal ◽  
Direct Stiffness

In straight-through centrifugal pumps, a grooved seal acts as a balance piston to equilibrate the full pressure rise across the pump. As the groove pattern breaks the development of fluid swirl, this seal type offers lesser leakage and lower cross-coupled stiffnesses than a similar size and clearance annular seal. Bulk-flow models predict expediently the static and dynamic force characteristics of annular seals; however they lack accuracy for grooved seals. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods give more accurate results, but are not computationally efficient. This paper presents a modified bulk-flow model to predict the rotordynamic force coefficients of shallow depth circumferentially grooved liquid seals with an accuracy comparable to a CFD solution but with a simulation time of bulk-flow analyses. The procedure utilizes the results of CFD to evaluate the bulk flow velocity field and the friction factors for a 73 grooves annular seal (depth/clearance dg/ Cr = 0.98 and length/diameter L/D = 0.9) operating under various sets of axial pressure drop and rotor speed. In a groove, the flow divides into a jet through the film land and a strong recirculation zone. The penetration angle (α), specifying the streamline separation in the groove cavity, is a function of the operating conditions; an increase in rotor speed or a lower pressure difference increases α. This angle plays a prominent role to evaluate the stator friction factor and has a marked influence on the seal direct stiffness. In the bulk-flow code the friction factor model (f = nRem) is modified with the CFD extracted penetration angle (α) to account for the flow separation in the groove cavity. The flow rate predicted by the modified bulk-flow code shows good agreement with a measured result (6% difference). A perturbation of the flow field is performed on the bulk-flow equations to evaluate the reaction forces on the rotor surface. Compared to the rotordynamic force coefficients derived from the CFD results, the modified bulk-flow code predicts rotordynamic force coefficients within 10%, except that the cross-coupled damping coefficient is over-predicted up to 14%. An example test seal with a few grooves (L/D = 0.5, dg/Cr = 2.5) serves to further validate the predictions of the modified bulk-flow model. Compared to the original bulk-flow analysis, the current method shows a significant improvement in the predicted rotordynamic force coefficients, the direct stiffness and damping coefficients in particular.

A NONHOMOGENEOUS BULK FLOW MODEL FOR GAS IN LIQUID FLOW ANNULAR SEALS: AN EFFORT TO PRODUCE ENGINEERING RESULTS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Xueliang Lu ◽  
Luis San Andres ◽  
Jing Yang
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Liquid Flow ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Pure Liquid ◽  
Dynamic Force ◽  
Force Coefficients ◽  
Direct Stiffness

Abstract Seals in multiple phase rotordynamic pumps must operate without compromising system efficiency and stability. Both field operation and laboratory experiments show that seals supplied with a gas in liquid mixture (bubbly flow) can produce rotordynamic instability and excessive rotor vibrations. This paper advances a nonhomogeneous bulk flow model (NHBFM) for the prediction of the leakage and dynamic force coefficients of uniform clearance annular seals lubricated with gas in liquid mixtures. Compared to a homogeneous BFM (HBFM), the current model includes diffusion coefficients in the momentum transport equations and a field equation for the transport of the gas volume fraction (GVF). Published experimental leakage and dynamic force coefficients for two seals supplied with an air in oil mixture whose GVF varies from 0 (pure liquid) to 20% serve to validate the novel model as well as to benchmark it against predictions from a HBFM. The first seal withstands a large pressure drop (~ 38 bar) and the shaft speed equals 7.5 krpm. The second seal restricts a small pressure drop (1.6 bar) as the shaft turns at 3.5 krpm. The first seal is typical as a balance piston whereas the second seal is found as a neck-ring seal in an impeller. For the high pressure seal and inlet GVF = 0.1, the flow is mostly homogeneous as the maximum diffusion velocity at the seal exit plane is just ~0.1% of the liquid flow velocity. Thus, both the NHBFM and HBFM predict similar flow fields, leakage (mass flow rate) and drag torque. The difference between the predicted leakage and measurement is less than 5%. The NHBFM direct stiffness (K) agrees with the experimental results and reduces faster with inlet GVF than the HBFM K. Both direct damping (C) and cross-coupled stiffness (k) increase with inlet GVF < 0.1.Compared to the test data, the two models generally under predict C and k by ~ 25%. Both models deliver a whirl frequency ratio (fw) ~ 0.3 for the pure liquid seal, hence closely matching the test data. fw raises to ~0.35 as the GVF approaches 0.1. For the low pressure seal the flow is laminar, the experimental results and both NHBFM and HBFM predict a null direct stiffness (K). At an inlet GVF = 0.2, the NHBFM predicted added mass (M) is ~30 % below the experimental result while the HBFM predicts a null M. C and k predicted by both models are within the uncertainty of the experimental results. For operation with either a pure liquid or a mixture (GVF = 0.2), both models deliver fw = 0.5 and equal to the experimental finding. The comparisons of predictions against experimental data demonstrate the NHBFM offers a marked improvement, in particular for the direct stiffness (K). The predictions reveal the fluid flow maintains the homogeneous character known at the inlet condition.

Friction Factor Directly From Roughness Measurements

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elling Sletfjerding ◽  
Jon Steinar Gudmundsson
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
High Reynolds Number ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Relative Roughness ◽  
High Reynolds ◽  
Friction Factor Correlation ◽  
Roughness Measurements

Abstract Pressure drop experiments on natural gas flow in 150 mm pipes at 80 to 120 bar pressure and high Reynolds number were carried out for pipes smooth to rough surfaces. The roughness was measured with an accurate stylus instrument and analyzed using fractal methods. Using a similar approach to that of Nikuradse the measured friction factor was related to the measured roughness values. Taking the value of the relative roughness and dividing it by the slope of the power spectrum of the measured roughness, a greatly improved fit with the measured friction factor was obtained. Indeed, a new friction factor correlation was obtained, but now formulated in terms of direct measurement of roughness.

An Alternative (Preferable) Friction Factor

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Gaggioli
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Pipe Flow ◽  
Incompressible Flows ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Relative Roughness ◽  
Curve Fit ◽  
Moody Diagram ◽  
Approximate Formulas

An alternative to the traditional friction factor for pipe flow is presented (φ = [R]f). For incompressible flows, the correlation of this new friction factor with Reynolds Number [R] and Relative Roughness [ε] is presented graphically, and appears much simpler and more intuitive than the Moody Diagram (or other equivalents). Moreover, relatively simple curve-fit formulas for representing φ explicitly as a function of R and ε are presented for various flow regimes, along with measures of error associated with these approximate formulas.

scholarly journals Solution of the Implicit Colebrook Equation for Flow Friction Using Excel

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejan Brkić
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Hydraulic Resistance ◽  
Iterative Solution ◽  
Pipe Surface ◽  
Implicit Equation ◽  
Flow Friction ◽  
Relative Roughness ◽  
Additional Task ◽  
Accepted Standard

Empirical Colebrook equation implicit in unknown ow friction factor (λ) is an accepted standard for calculation of hydraulic resistance in hydraulically smooth and rough pipes. e Colebrook equation gives friction factor (λ) implicitly as a function of the Reynolds number (Re) and relative roughness (ε/D) of inner pipe surface; i.e. λ0=f(λ0, Re, ε/D). e paper presents a problem that requires iterative methods for the solution. In particular, the implicit method used for calculating the friction factor λ0 is an application of xed- point iterations. e type of problem discussed in this "in the classroom paper" is commonly encountered in uid dynamics, and this paper provides readers with the tools necessary to solve similar problems. Students’ task is to solve the equation using Excel where the procedure for that is explained in this “in the classroom” paper. Also, up to date numerous explicit approximations of the Colebrook equation are available where as an additional task for students can be evaluation of the error introduced by these explicit approximations λ≈f(Re, ε/D) compared with the iterative solution of implicit equation which can be treated as accurate.

A Novel Bulk-Flow Model for Pocket Damper Seals

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo Cangioli ◽  
Giuseppe Vannini ◽  
Thomas Chirathadam
Keyword(s):  
Flow Model ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Order System ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Flow Area ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Recirculating Flow ◽  
Numerical Predictions

Abstract In this paper, a novel bulk-flow model for pocket damper seals (PDS) is introduced. The model is based on two control volumes (CVs) for each circumferential pocket of the seal. The continuity, circumferential momentum, and energy equations are considered for each control volume. The circumferential recirculating flow within the pocket is modeled for the first time. The boundary layer theory is used to estimate the recirculating flow area, and the Swamee–Jain friction factor correlation allows for defining the dissipation of the circumferential velocity. The perturbation method is used to solve the partial derivative governing equations in the zeroth- and first-order system of equations. The rotordynamic coefficients are evaluated by integrating the dynamic pressure and rotor shear stresses along the circumferential direction. The predictions are compared to the experimental data, which refer to test conditions representative of high-pressure centrifugal compressors. Numerical predictions are accurate for both high positive–negative inlet preswirl ratios. Leakage predictions are also aligned with measurements. Finally, sealing selection approach is introduced in the paper for comparing the dynamic behavior of two different sealing technologies and identifying stable regions as a function of the rotor natural frequency and preswirl ratio.

Development of Scallop Cut Type Damper Seal for Centrifugal Compressors

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naohiko Takahashi ◽  
Haruo Miura ◽  
Mitsuhiro Narita ◽  
Noriyo Nishijima ◽  
Yohei Magara
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Perturbation Analysis ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Rotating Frame ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Neighboring Region ◽  
Rotor Surface ◽  
Honeycomb Seals

This paper deals with a new type of damper seal developed for a high-pressure centrifugal compressor. Honeycomb seals and hole-pattern seals are popularly used as damper seals and provide superior rotordynamic damping characteristics. Honeycomb seals are expensive because the manufacturing process is complex. Hole-pattern seals are easier to manufacture, but they are still expensive. Use of a scallop pattern is one way to reduce manufacturing cost and time. A new seal that has a scallop pattern and small teeth on the stator surface is proposed. This pattern is cut on the stator surface using a disc type tool. To estimate the rotordynamic coefficients of this new seal, a bulk flow model code that is based on a two-control-volume model developed by Matsuda for labyrinth seals was newly developed. This model uses the Hirs model for the viscous shear stresses. The friction factor coefficients for the rotor surface, the stator surface and the surface between the two control volumes were determined by CFD steady analysis. The rotordynamic coefficients can also be obtained by using CFD perturbation analysis. The high accuracy of the bulk flow model was demonstrated by comparing its results with CFD perturbation analysis results. In the perturbation analysis, the whirling motion was treated as a steady state problem by using a rotating frame of reference. For the damper seal, the rotor surface and its neighboring region were treated with a rotating frame of reference and the neighboring region of the stator was treated with a stationary frame of reference. The damping property of the new seal was evaluated by conducting rotor stability tests using a high-pressure compressor with an electromagnetic exciter. The new seal equipped with swirl brakes was used for the balance piston of the compressor. Stability was evaluated by exciting the rotor during operation and identifying the eigenvalues of the rotor. The experimental results showed that the new seal increases damping. Comparison of the damping effect with calculations based on the bulk flow analysis showed good agreement.

Sensitivity Analysis of the One-Control Volume Bulk-Flow Model for a 14 Teeth-on-Stator Straight-Through Labyrinth Seal

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo Cangioli ◽  
Paolo Pennacchi ◽  
Giacomo Riboni ◽  
Giuseppe Vannini ◽  
Lorenzo Ciuchicchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Mathematical Treatment ◽  
Dynamic Coefficients ◽  
The One

Since the 80s, academic research in the rotordynamics field has developed mathematical treatment for the prediction of the dynamic coefficients of sealing components. Dealing with the straight-through labyrinth seal, Iwatsubo [1], at a first stage, and Childs [2], later on, have developed the one-control volume bulk flow model. The model allows evaluating the surrounding fluid forces acting on the rotor, analyzing the fluid dynamics within the seal: the continuity, circumferential momentum and energy equations are solved for each cavity. To consider axial fluid dynamics, correlations, aiming to estimate the leakage and the pressure distribution, are required. Several correlations have been proposed in the literature for the estimation of the leakage, of the kinetic energy carry-over coefficient (KE), of the discharge coefficient and of the friction factor. After decades of research in the field of seal dynamics, the bulk-flow model has been confirmed as the most popular code in the industries, however, it is not clear which is the best set of correlations for the prediction of seal dynamic coefficients. This paper allows identifying the most accurate combination of correlations to be implemented in the bulk-flow model. The correlations are related to: the leakage formula, the flow coefficient, the KE and the friction factor. Investigating the results of several models (32 models), which consider different sets of correlations, in comparison to the experimental data (performed by General Electric Oil & Gas), it is possible to observe the dependence, of the model correlations, on the operating conditions. The experimental results, performed using a 14 teeth-on-stator labyrinth seal, investigate several operating conditions of pressure drop.

Test Results for Liquid “Damper” Seals Using a Round-Hole Roughness Pattern for the Stators

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara W. Childs ◽  
Patrice Fayolle
Keyword(s):  
Friction Factor ◽  
Round Hole ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Partial Explanation ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Stiffness Coefficients ◽  
Friction Factors ◽  
Direct Stiffness ◽  
Factor Data ◽  
Pressure Driven Flow

Test results are reviewed for two annular liquid seals (L = 34.9 mm; D = 76.5 mm) at two clearances (.1 and .12 mm). The seal stators use hole-pattern-roughened stators that are identical except for hole depths of .28 and 2.0 mm. Tests are conducted at three speeds out to 24,600 rpm and three pressures out to 68 bars. Test data consist of leakage rates and rotordynamic coefficients at centered and eccentric positions with static eccentricity ratios out to 0.5. Test results are consistent with expectations in regard to the reduction of cross-coupled stiffness coefficients due to stator roughness. However, the measured direct stiffness coefficients were unexpectedly low. A partial explanation for these results is provided by measured friction factor data which show an increase in the friction factors for pressure-driven flow with an increase in clearance. A prediction model for rotordynamic coefficients, incorporating the friction-factor data, predicted a substantial loss in direct stiffness but could not explain the very low (or negative) values that were measured. The model did explain the measured drop in cross coupled stiffness (k) and provides an alternative explanation to observed reductions in k values; specifically, an increase in the friction factor with increasing clearance causes a reduction in k irrespective of any parallel reduction in the average circumferential velocity.

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