Abstract
In this study, the optimized design profiles between a seal ring and a seal seat of contacting seal units has been proposed based on the FEM computed results. The maximum temperatures, the thermal distortions in axial and radial directions, and maximum contact normal stresses between a seal ring and a seal seat have been analyzed for various contact sealing profiles. The FEM computed results present that the contact area between seal rings and seal seats is very important for a good tribological performance such as low friction heating, low wear, high contact normal stress in a primary sealing components. The seal surface model III in which has a small sealing contact area shows low dilatation of primary sealing components, and high contact stress between a seal ring and a seal seat. This model with small contact surface of a seal ring produces high friction heating and contact stress. But the model III produces very small deformations of contacting sealing surface because of high convection heat transfer by cooling water circulation around the seal ring surface. Thus, the analysis results recommend a short width of a primary sealing unit rather than a big width of contact surfaces of contacting seal units for reducing a leakage and axial deformation of primary seal components.