Labyrinth Seal Design for Preventing Internal Inflow of Plating Solution

Molten zinc plating is a process in which zinc is thinly coated over a metallic or non-metallic surface. It is used in various industrial fields for corrosion resistance and decoration. During the process, a steel sheet is passed through a roll that rotates inside the molten zinc liquid in the temperature range of $460^{\circ}C$ to $680^{\circ}C$, and the plating liquid flows into the roll causing abrasion and erosion of the roll surface. This problem is known to accelerate the replacement cycle of the roll and cause considerable economic loss owing to production line stoppage. Here, we propose a mechanism that operates at high temperature and pressure with a labyrinth type seal design to resolve this problem. We theoretically investigate the flow of the plating solution inside the seal and compute the minimum rotation speed required to prevent the plating solution from entering the seal chamber. In addition, we calculate the thermal deformation of the seal during operation and display thermally deformed dimensions at high temperatures. To verify the theoretical results, we perform experiments using pilot test equipment working in the actual plating environment. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical results. We expect our results to contribute towards the extension of the roll's life span and thereby reduce the economic losses.

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