Behavior of Hydrostatic and Hydrodynamic Noncontacting Face Seals

1968 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 510-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. Cheng ◽  
C. Y. Chow ◽  
D. F. Wilcock
Keyword(s):  
Large Diameter ◽  
Initial Imperfection ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
Compressible Fluids ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Spiral Groove ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Dynamic Tracking ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Groove Seal

In this paper, the pressure generation and static stability of face-type seals are discussed and an expression is developed to estimate the effectiveness of hydrodynamic action in these seals. Some design data are presented for the hydrostatic step seal, hydrostatic-orifice compensated seal, hybrid spiral-groove seal, and the shrouded Rayleigh step seal. These data are applicable to large-diameter seals for compressible fluids. The seal ring distortions due to initial imperfection, pressure, and thermal expansion are discussed. Approaches to estimate and to minimize the effects of these distortions are outlined. Finally, the ability of a face seal to track the vibrations of the runner is also discussed and methods required to determine the dynamic tracking for rigid or flexible seals are described.

Numerical Modelling of High Pressure Gas Face Seals

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Se´bastien Thomas ◽  
Noe¨l Brunetie`re ◽  
Bernard Tournerie
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Compressible Fluids ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Choked Flow ◽  
Exit Boundary ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Gas Face Seal ◽  
Comparison With Experimental Data

A numerical model of face seals operating with compressible fluids at high pressure is presented. Inertia terms are included using an averaged method and thermal effects are considered. The real behaviour of gases at high pressure is taken into account. An original exit boundary condition is used to deal with choked flow. The model is validated by comparison with experimental data and analytical solutions. Finally, the influence of the operating conditions on the performance of a high-pressure gas face seal is analysed.

Hatch Seal Design Parameters for Manned Submersibles

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry A. Henkener ◽  
Donald W. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Large Diameter ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Test Protocol ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Mechanical Joints ◽  
Southwest Research Institute ◽  
Seal Design ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Manned Submersible

Southwest Research Institute conducted a test program on the 26-inch diameter hatch seal o-ring for a manned submersible vehicle. The tests measured o-ring extrusion at pressure differentials across the seal of up to 1560 psig and gaps between the sealing surfaces of up to 0.110 inches. This paper presents a test protocol for determining the maximum gap that a given size o-ring can seal at a given pressure. This paper also presents charts of extrusion vs. seal gap and addresses the potential for o-ring damage when the sealed joint is depressurized. The test results were used in the design of the hatch seal for the U.S. Navy Pressurized Rescue Module and represent the first industry-wide o-ring design data for face seals in large diameter mechanical joints that do not close with pressure.

Low-Leakage Shaft-End Seals for Utility-Scale Supercritical CO2 Turboexpanders

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul A. Bidkar ◽  
Edip Sevincer ◽  
Jifeng Wang ◽  
Azam M. Thatte ◽  
Andrew Mann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Diameter ◽  
Thermodynamic Cycle ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Power Cycles ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Viscous Shear ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Utility Scale

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles could be a more efficient alternative to steam Rankine cycles for power generation from coal. Using existing labyrinth seal technology, shaft-end-seal leakage can result in a 0.55–0.65% points efficiency loss for a nominally 500 MWe sCO2 power cycle plant. Low-leakage hydrodynamic face seals are capable of reducing this leakage loss and are considered a key enabling component technology for achieving 50–52% thermodynamic cycle efficiencies with indirect coal-fired sCO2 power cycles. In this paper, a hydrodynamic face seal concept is presented for utility-scale sCO2 turbines. A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with real gas CO2 properties is developed for studying the thin-film physics. These CFD results are also compared with the predictions of a Reynolds-equation-based solver. The 3D CFD model results show large viscous shear and the associated windage heating challenge in sCO2 face seals. Following the CFD model, an axisymmetric finite-element analysis (FEA) model is developed for parametric optimization of the face seal cross section with the goal of minimizing the coning of the stationary ring. A preliminary thermal analysis of the seal is also presented. The fluid, structural, and thermal results show that large-diameter (about 24 in.) face seals with small coning (of the order of 0.0005 in.) are possible. The fluid, structural, and thermal results are used to highlight the design challenges in developing face seals for utility-scale sCO2 turbines.

Low-Leakage Shaft End Seals for Utility-Scale Supercritical CO2 Turboexpanders

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul A. Bidkar ◽  
Edip Sevincer ◽  
Jifeng Wang ◽  
Azam M. Thatte ◽  
Andrew Mann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Diameter ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Efficiency Loss ◽  
Power Cycles ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Utility Scale ◽  
Cycle Efficiency

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles could be a more efficient alternative to steam Rankine cycles for power generation from coal. In this paper, the end seal layout for a nominally 500 MWe sCO2 turbine is presented and the shaft end sealing requirements for such utility-scale sCO2 turbines are discussed. Shaft end leakage from a closed-loop sCO2 cycle and the associated recompression load can result in net cycle efficiency loss of about 0.55% points to 0.65% points for a nominally 500 MWe sCO2 power cycle plant. Low-leakage hydrodynamic face seals are capable of reducing this leakage loss (and net cycle efficiency loss), and are considered a key enabling component technology for achieving 50–52% or greater thermodynamic cycle efficiencies with indirect coal-fired sCO2 power cycles. In this paper, a hydrodynamic face seal concept is presented for end seals on utility-scale sCO2 turbines. A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with real gas CO2 properties is developed for studying the physics of the thin fluid film separating the seal stationary ring and the rotor. The results of the 3D CFD model are also compared with the predictions of a Reynolds-equation-based solver. The 3D CFD model results show large viscous shear and the associated windage heating challenge in sCO2 face seals. Following the CFD model, an axisymmetric finite-element analysis (FEA) model is developed for parametric optimization of the face seal cross-section with the goal of minimizing the coning of the stationary ring. A preliminary thermal analysis of the seal is also presented. The fluid, structural and thermal results show that large-diameter (about 24 inch) face seals with small coning or out-of-plane deformations (of the order of 0.0005 inch) are possible. The fluid, structural and thermal results are used to highlight the design challenges in developing large-diameter and high-differential-pressure face seals for the operating conditions of utility-scale sCO2 turbines.

Numerical Modelling of High Pressure Gas Face Seals

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Thomas ◽  
Noël Brunetière ◽  
Bernard Tournerie
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Compressible Fluids ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Choked Flow ◽  
Exit Boundary ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Real Behavior ◽  
Gas Face Seal

An axisymetric numerical model of face seals operating with compressible fluids at high pressure is presented. Inertia terms are included using an averaged method and thermal effects are considered. The real behavior of gases at high pressure is taken into account. An original exit boundary condition is used to deal with choked flow. The model is validated by comparison with experimental data and analytical solutions. Finally, the influence of the operating conditions on the performance of a high-pressure gas face seal is analyzed. It is shown that when the flow is choked, the mass flow rate is reduced and the behavior of the seal becomes unstable.

Numerical Modeling of Dynamic Sealing Behaviors of Spiral Groove Gas Face Seals

2001 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Ruan
Keyword(s):  
Time Integration ◽  
Time History ◽  
Integration Scheme ◽  
Spiral Groove ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Dynamic Tracking ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Tracking Motion ◽  
Time Integration Scheme ◽  
History Of

A numerical model is developed for the dynamic analysis of gas lubricated spiral groove face seals. Effects of the rotor runout, misalignment, face contact, as well as the stiffness and damping of the secondary seal are considered. Seal axial and angular motions and key parameters such as torque, power loss, and flow rate are obtained by a global time integration scheme, which traces the time history of the dynamic sealing behaviors. The analysis of gas film lubrication, face contact, and the seal dynamics is cast as an inverse problem and the solution is obtained iteratively at each time step. Dynamic tracking motion and key sealing characteristics of a representative spiral groove gas seal undergoing transient operations are presented.

Numerical Analysis of Dry Gas Face Seals With Spiral Groove and Inner Annular Groove

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu-Dong Peng ◽  
Li-Li Tan ◽  
Ji-Yun Li ◽  
Song-En Sheng ◽  
Shao-Xian Bai
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Equation ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Axial Stiffness ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Optimization Principle ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
The Face ◽  
Gas Face Seal ◽  
Film Stiffness ◽  
Spiral Grooves

A two-dimensional Reynolds equation was established for isothermal compressible gas between the two faces of a dry gas face seal with both spiral grooves and an inner annular groove onto the hard face. The opening force, the leakage rate, the axial film stiffness and the film stiffness to leakage ratio were calculated by finite element method. The comparisons with the sealing performances of a typical gas face seal only with spiral grooves onto its hard face were made. The effects of the face geometric parameters on the static behavior of such a seal were analyzed. The optimization principle for geometric parameters of a dry gas face seals with spiral grooves and an inner annular groove was presented. The recommended geometric parameters of spiral grooves and circular groove presented by optimization can ensure larger axial stiffness while lower leakage rates.

Hydrodynamic Lubrication and Wear in Wavy Contacting Face Seals

1978 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Lebeck ◽  
J. L. Teale ◽  
R. E. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Hydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Surface Profile ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Hydrodynamic Load ◽  
Surface Waviness ◽  
Wear Rates ◽  
Elastic Deflection ◽  
Face Seals

A model of face seal lubrication is proposed and developed. Hydrodynamic lubrication for rough surfaces, surface waviness, asperity load support, elastic deflection, and wear are considered in the model. Predictions of the ratio of hydrodynamic load support to asperity load support are made for a face seal sealing a low viscosity liquid where some contact does occur and surface roughness is important. The hydrodynamic lubrication is caused by circumferential surface waviness on the seal faces. Waviness is caused by initial out of flatness or any of the various distortions that occur on seal ring faces in operation. The equilibrium solution to the problem yields one dimensional hydrodynamic and asperity pressure distributions, mean film thickness, elastic deflection, and friction for a given load on the seal faces. The solution is found numerically. It is shown that the fraction of hydrodynamic load support depends on many parameters including the waviness amplitude, number of waves around the seal, face width, ring stiffness, and most importantly, surface roughness. For the particular seal examined the fraction of load support would be small for the amount of waviness expected in this seal. However, if the surface roughness were lower, almost complete lift-off is possible. The results of the analysis show why the initial friction and wear rates in mechanical face seals may vary widely; the fraction of hydrodynamic load support depends on the roughness and waviness which are not necessarily controlled. Finally, it is shown how such initial waviness effects disappear as the surface profile is altered by wear. This may take a long or short time, depending on the initial amount of hydrodynamic load support, but unless complete liftoff is achieved under all operating conditions, the effects of initial waviness will vanish in time for steady state conditions. Practical implications are drawn for selecting some seal parameters to enhance initial hydrodynamic load support without causing significant leakage.

Thermoelastohydrodynamic Behavior of Mechanical Gas Face Seals Operating at High Pressure

2007 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 841-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Thomas ◽  
Noël Brunetière ◽  
Bernard Tournerie
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Face Seal ◽  
Inertia Effects ◽  
Real Gas ◽  
Choked Flow ◽  
Face Seals ◽  
Mechanical Face Seal ◽  
Gas Expansion

A numerical modeling of thermoelastohydrodynamic mechanical face seal behavior is presented. The model is an axisymmetric one and it is confined to high pressure compressible flow. It takes into account the behavior of a real gas and includes thermal and inertia effects, as well as a choked flow condition. In addition, heat transfer between the fluid film and the seal faces is computed, as are the elastic and thermal distortions of the rings. In the first part of this paper, the influence of the coning angle on mechanical face seal characteristics is studied. In the second part, the influence of the solid distortions is analyzed. It is shown that face distortions strongly modify both the gap geometry and the mechanical face seal’s performance. The mechanical distortions lead to a converging gap, while the gas expansion, by cooling the fluid, creates a diverging gap.

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