scholarly journals Numerical Analysis of Flow across Brush Elements Based on a 2-D Staggered Tube Banks Model

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Song ◽  
Meihong Liu ◽  
Xiangping Hu ◽  
Xueliang Wang ◽  
Taohong Liao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Euler Number ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
System A ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Back Plate ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Secondary Air ◽  
Tube Banks ◽  
Gas Expansion

In order to improve efficiency in turbomachinery, brush seal replaces labyrinth seals widely in the secondary air system. A 2-d staggered tube bank model is adopted to simulate the gas states and the pressure character in brush seal, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to solve the model in this paper. According to the simulation results, the corrected formula of the Euler number and dimensionless pressure are given. The results show that gas expands when flow through the bristle pack, and the gas expansion closes to an isotherm process. The dynamic pressure increases with decreasing static pressure. The Euler number can reflect the seal performance of brush seals in leakage characteristics. Compared with increasing the number of rows, the reduction of the gap is a higher-efficiency method to increase the Euler number. The Euler number continually increases as the gap decreases. However, with the differential pressure increasing, Euler number first increases and then decreases as the number of rows increases. Finally, the pressure distribution on the surface of end rows is asymmetric, and it may increase the friction between the bristles and the back plate.

Improvement of Conventional Seals for Stator-Rotor Cavities of Heavy-Duty Gas Turbines by Application of Interstage Brush-Seals

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Mantero ◽  
Alessandro Vinci ◽  
Luca Bozzi ◽  
Enrico D’Angelo
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Flow Process ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Temperature And Pressure ◽  
Brush Seals ◽  
Secondary Air

In order to achieve significant secondary air savings in heavy duty gas turbines, a remarkable item of improvement is the reduction of seal flows for turbine stator-rotor cavities. The optimization of such flows allows to avoid waste of air, obligatory with standard labyrinth seals, to ensure the minimum sealing flow rate in all operating conditions. Based on the experience gained in the design of sealing system of stator-rotor cavities with standard seals, the project of installation of inter-stage brush-seals was undertaken incorporating such devices into the vane seal rings of 2nd and 3rd turbine stages of a AE94.3A Gas Turbine (GT). The paper offers a detailed description of the installation project. The following describes in detail the design flow process and the calculation methodologies used, step by step, to define the geometry of brush-seals in order to ensure mechanical integrity and durability, needed in the commercial operation, without thereby affecting the performance. The first prototype of brush-seal devices has been installed on a AE94.3A4 unit of the Ansaldo fleet. In order to verify the behavior of stator-rotor sealing system, in particular in terms of temperature and pressure variations, vane seal rings have been equipped with special instrumentation. A series of tests to optimize the set points of bleed control valves was carried out.

Numerical Analysis of Pressure Distribution in a Brush Seal based on a 2-D Staggered Tube Banks Model

2019 ◽  
pp. -1--1
Author(s):  
Yuchi Kang ◽  
Meihong Liu ◽  
Sharon Kao-Walter ◽  
Jinbin Liu ◽  
Qihong Ceng
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Tube Banks

CFD Leakage Predictions of Unworn and Worn Labyrinth Seals With and Without Tooth Axial Offset

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasham H. Chougule ◽  
Alexander Mirzamoghadam
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Small Clearance ◽  
Total Leakage ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Flow Deflection

The objective of this study is to develop a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based methodology for analyzing and predicting leakage of worn or rub-intended labyrinth seals during operation. The simulations include intended tooth axial offset and numerical modeling of the flow field. The purpose is to predict total leakage through the seal when an axial tooth offset is provided after the intended/unintended rub. Results indicate that as expected, the leakage for the in-line worn land case (i.e. tooth under rub) is higher compared to unworn. Furthermore, the intended rotor/teeth forward axial offset/shift with respect to the rubbed land reduces the seal leakage. The overall leakage of a rubbed seal with axial tooth offset is observed to be considerably reduced, and it can become even less than a small clearance seal designed not to rub. The reduced leakage during steady state is due to a targeted smaller running gap because of tooth offset under the intended/worn land groove shape, higher blockages, higher turbulence and flow deflection as compared to worn seal model without axial tooth offset.

scholarly journals Return Flight

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (12) ◽  
pp. 62-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Chalmers
Keyword(s):  
Flight Control ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Development Work ◽  
Flight Control System ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
System A ◽  
Physical Testing ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Thrust Control

This article focuses on the fact that using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and design of experiments (DOE) software, researchers are in pursuit of aircraft fluidics thrust control without moving component parts. Fluidics’ performance is dictated by complex interactions among approximately two dozen geometric and fluid properties. These complex interactions probably proved overwhelming to early researchers seeking a stable, reliable rocket flight control system. A major advantage of DOE is that it allows all the parameters to vary simultaneously. A single permutation, on the other hand, varies one parameter at a time and cannot deal with interactions among the fixed parameters. There is still more development work to be done, but indications are that CFD and DOE are leading Lockheed Martin to a promising design. Physical testing reinforces the belief that a fluidic nozzle can achieve the performance levels required. The technology that never got off the ground in the early rocket era may find itself flying high in the next generation of high-performance tactical aircraft.

Rotating Brush Seal Design and Performance Testing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelesh Sarawate ◽  
Deepak Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Force ◽  
Compact Space ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Test Setup ◽  
Seal Design ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Brush Seals ◽  
Dynamic Seal ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Brush seals are widely used in various turbomachinery applications because they provide reduced leakage than labyrinth seals in a compact space. Brush seals are generally mounted on static components and their flexible bristle tips engage the rotor to form a dynamic seal. In this paper, development of a brush seal mounted on a rotor is discussed. Benefits of this enhancement to brush seal include avoiding localized rubs on the rotor, which reduces heating of a local spot and resulting rotor bow and instabilities. The bristles are angled circumferentially instead of axially and are supported by a conical backplate. Under rotation, the bristles are pushed towards the backplate by the centrifugal force. Seal configurations are designed to fit into interstage and inter-shaft locations. A modeling approach for predicting stiffness and operating stresses in these seals also is outlined. A test setup is developed to characterize the performance of rotating brush seals under engine-representative centrifugal force and pressure differentials. Presented results demonstrate that brush seal can achieve tight effective gaps and desired performance after undergoing initial wear.

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 Comparison of Leakage Flow and Rotordynamic Characteristics for Two Types of Labyrinth Seals With Baffles

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanqiao Zhang ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Zhigang Li ◽  
Xin Yan
Keyword(s):  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Flow Resistance ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Numerical Comparison ◽  
Vibration Frequencies ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Swirl Intensity

Abstract Cavity separation baffles can decrease the circumferential swirl intensity of labyrinth seals and increase the seals' rotordynamic characteristics. Compared with conventional baffles, the bristle packs of brush seal baffles can contact the rotor directly, thereby further reducing the swirl intensity of the seal cavity. This paper, using the numerical model combining a multifrequency elliptical whirling orbit model, a porous medium model, and transient Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solutions, compares the leakage flow and rotordynamic characteristics of a labyrinth seal with brush-seal baffles (LSBSB) and a labyrinth seal with conventional baffles (LSCB). Ideal air flows into the seal at an inlet preswirl velocity of 0 m/s (or 60 m/s or 100 m/s), total pressure of 690 kPa, and temperature of 14 °C. The outlet static pressure is 100 kPa and the rotational speed is 7500 r/min (surface speed of 66.8 m/s) or 15,000 r/min (surface speed of 133.5 m/s). Numerical results show that the LSBSB possesses the slightly less leakage flow rate than the LSCB due to the flow resistance of the bristle pack to the fluid. Compared with the LSCB, the LSBSB shows a higher positive effective stiffness (Keff) at all considered vibration frequencies and a higher effective damping (Ceff) for most vibration frequencies. What is more, the crossover frequency (fc0) of the LSBSB is significantly lower than that of the LSCB, which means that the LSBSB has a wider frequency range offering positive effective damping. The increasing inlet preswirl velocity and rotational speed only slightly affect the Keff for both seals. The Ceff of two seals decreases as the inlet preswirl velocity rises, especially for the LSCB. The Ceff of the LSCB slightly decreases because of the increasing rotational speed. In contrast, the Ceff of the LSBSB is not sensitive to the changes in rotational speed. In a word, the LSBSB possesses superior rotordynamic performance to the LSCB. Note that this work also investigates the leakage flow and rotordynamic characteristics a labyrinth seal with inclined baffles (LSIB) under the condition of u0 = 60 m/s and n = 15,000 r/min. The inclined baffles of the LSIB are same as the backing plates of LSBSB baffles. The LSIB has rotordynamic coefficients almost equal to the LSCB. Hence, the reason why the LSBSB possesses better rotordynamic performance than that of the LSCB is the flow resistance of bristle packs of brush seal baffles, not the inclination direction variation of baffles.

Numerical Investigations of Leakage Performance Degradations in Labyrinth and Flexible Seals Due to Wear

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinbo Dai ◽  
Xin Yan ◽  
Kun He ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Zhenping Feng
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Rate ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Numerical Investigations ◽  
Forward Bending ◽  
The Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Wear Damage

Abstract The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods are utilized to investigate the leakage performance degradations in two kinds of flexible seals (i.e. forward bending and backward bending) and two kinds of shroud labyrinth seals (i.e. with straight fins and chamfered fins) in rubbing events. With the existing experimental data, FEA methods for contacting simulations and CFD methods for leakage rate and flow pattern predictions are carefully examined. The wear characteristic and leakage performance between labyrinth seals and flexible seals are compared before and after rub. The results show that, in rubbing process, the labyrinth seal with straight (symmetrical) fins is likely to undergo the mushrooming damage, whereas the labyrinth seal with chamfered (asymmetrical) fins is likely to undergo the tooth-bending damage. In rubbing process, compared with the labyrinth seal, the flexible seal has a superior characteristic in resisting the wear damage due to increased flexibility of fin. For a labyrinth seal with 0.3mm design clearance and a flexible seal with 0.15mm design clearance, the 0.5mm radial displacement of rotor will result in 110% increase of leakage rate for labyrinth seal, and 7% increase of leakage rate for flexible seal after wear. Under the same conditions, the forward bending flexible seal has a lower leakage rate than the backward bending flexible seal before and after rub.

On the Leakage and Dynamic Force Coefficients of a Novel Stepped Shaft Pocket Damper Seal: Experimental and Numerical Verification

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yang ◽  
Luis San Andres ◽  
Xueliang Lu
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
System Stability ◽  
Damping Coefficient ◽  
Dynamic Force ◽  
Numerical Verification ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Stepped Shaft ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Rotor Surface ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd

Abstract High performance turbomachinery favors annular seals with a large damping coefficient to ensure rotor system stability. Pocket damper seals (PDSs), a variation of labyrinth seals with axial blades (ribs) and adding circumferential partition walls (ridges), produce a favorable damping performance. To further enhance the damping characteristic, a novel stepped shaft PDS is hereby introduced. The invention has a unique arrangement of steps on the rotor, each facing an upstream rib in a pocket. The step and a blade tip form a tight clearance (c1), while the rotor surface and the downstream blade tip make a larger clearance (c2). To validate the invention performance, a stepped shaft PDS (c1/c2 = 0.5) with four ribs and eight pockets is built and tested. For supply pressure (Ps) = 1.1 bar to 3.2 bar, the measured leakage for the stepped shaft PDS is 50% of that for an identical PDS with a smooth rotor surface (c1/c2 = 1, i.e., a uniform clearance PDS). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and bulk flow model predicted leakages agree well with the measurements. For Ps = 2.3 bar, the test damping coefficient for the stepped shaft PDS is ~ 1.5 times greater than that for the uniform clearance PDS. With an increase in Ps to 3.2 bar, the stepped shaft PDS shows a 2.5 times increase in damping coefficient. Both the test data and CFD predictions demonstrate the superior damping performance of the invention, thus providing a novel alternative seal configuration for turbomachinery usage.

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