• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
• /
• v.9 no.3 s.36
• /
• pp.14-21
• /
• 2006

Leakage reduction through annular type seals of turbomachinery is necessary for enhancing their efficiency and the precise prediction method of seal leakage is needed. The analysis based on Bulk-flow concept has been mainly used in predicting seal leakage. However, full Navier-Stokes Equations with turbulent model derived in the seal flow passage have to be solved for improving the prediction of seal leakage. FLUENT 6 which is commercial CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics) code based on FVM(Finite Volume Method) and SIMPLE algorism has been used to analyze leakage of various non-contact-type seals in this presentation. Comparing with the results of Bulk-flow model analysis and experiment, the result of CFD analysis shows good agreement with that of existing theoretical analysis for the incompressible grooved seal and compressive plain and staggered seal. The CFD analysis also shows improvement on the leakage prediction of the incompressible plain seal and compressive see-through-type labyrinth seal.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
• /
• v.2 no.3 s.4
• /
• pp.52-58
• /
• 1999

The leakage and rotordynamic coefficients of see-through type gas labyrinth seals are determined using a two-control-volume-model analysis with Moody's wall-friction-factor formula which is defined with a large range of Reynolds number and relative roughness. Jet flow theory are used for the calculation of the recirculation velocity in the cavity. For the reaction force from the labyrinth seal, linearized zeroth-order and the first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position. The leakage and rotordynamic coefficient results of the present analysis are compared with Scharrer's theoretical analysis using Blasius' wall-friction-factor formula and Pelletti's experimental results. The comparison shows that the present analysis using Moody's wall-friction-factor formula and Scharrer's theoretical analysis using Blasius' wall-friction-factor formula give the same results for a smooth seal surface and the range of Reynolds number less than $10^5$.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.44-50
• /
• 2015

Labyrinth seals are commonly used in various kinds of turbomachinery to reduce leakage flow. In the present 3D CFD analysis of see-through-type labyrinth air seal, the methodology of determining leakage and rotordynamic coefficients is suggested with the relative coordinate system for steady-state simulation. The leakage flow and rotordynamic forces predicted by using different solvers and turbulent models of FLUENT are compared with the results of the existing bulk-flow analysis code LABYSEAL.FOR and experiment. The present CFD result of direct stiffness(K) shows only improvement in prediction. The results of leakage and rotordynamic coefficients as well as computing time are sensitive against the used solver and turbulent model.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.102-108
• /
• 2015

Recently, There are many studies in progress in order to improve the efficiency of the gas turbine. Leakage in losses of the gas turbine account for the largest proportion. Seal is a sealing device to reduce the flow from leaking by the pressure difference inside the turbine. Compressor has another value according to the shape and pressure conditions in each stage. Thus, it is necessary to seal design for boundary conditions in order to minimize leakage. At the actual operating conditions of the compressor, numerical analysis of honeycomb labyrinth seal was performed in accordance with pressure, temperature, rotor speed for CFD. As a result, when the temperature increases, the leakage is decreased. Also, when the pressure increases linearly with increased leakage, and there was no effect of the rotation speed.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
• /
• v.7 no.6 s.27
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2004

Governing equations and numerical solution methods are derived for the analysis of a combination-type-staggered-labyrinth seal used in high performance steam turbines. A bulk flow is assumed for each combination-type-staggered-labyrinth cavity. Axial flow through a throttling labyrinth strip is determined by Neumann's leakage equation and circumferential flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the labyrinth cavity. Moody's wall-friction-factor formula is used for the calculation of wall shear stresses. For the reaction force developed by the seal, linearized zeroth-order and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion near the centered position. Integration of the resultant first-order pressure distribution along and around the seal defines the rotordynamic coefficients of the combination-type-staggered-labyrinth seal. Theoretical results of leakage and rotordynamic characteristics for the IP4-stage seal of USC (ultra super critical) steam turbine are shown with the effect of sump pressure, the number of throttling labyrinth strip, and rotor speed.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.31-40
• /
• 2021

This study describes the effects of a thrust labyrinth seal applied to the backside of a centrifugal impeller on the axial thrust force for high speed turbomachinery. The bulk flow model using Neumann's equation calculates the seal cavity pressures and leakage flow rate of the thrust labyrinth seal based on three configurations: teeth-on-rotor (TOR), teeth-on-stator (TOS), and interlocking labyrinth seal (ILS). Prediction results show that the ILS is superior to the TOR and TOS in terms of leakage flow rate. A mathematical model of a centrifugal impeller with a thrust labyrinth seal on its backside calculates the force components corresponding to the impeller inlet, shroud, impeller backside outer, backside seal, and backside inner pressures. A summation of the force components renders the total axial thrust force acting on the centrifugal impeller. The Newton-Raphson numerical scheme iteratively calculates the pressures and leakage flow rate through the impeller wall gap. The prediction results reveal that the leakage flow rate and total axial thrust force increase with rotor speed, and the ILS significantly decreases the leakage flow rate, whereas it slightly increases the axial thrust force when compared to TOR and TOS. Increasing the seal clearance causes an increase in the leakage flow rate and a slight decrease in the axial thrust force with the ILS.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.1B
• /
• pp.11-20
• /
• 2008

The spillway type of small and midsize dams in Korea is almost overflow weir. To examine flood control capacity of overflow spillway, FLOW-3D was applied to Daesuho dam and analysis was focused on the discharge of dam spillway by changing weir shape. Overflow phases and discharges of linear labyrinth weir and curved labyrinth weir were compared with those of existing linear ogee weir. Hydraulic model experiment was performed to verify numerical result. Verification results showed that overflow behaviors and flow characteristics in the side channel by hydraulic model experiment and numerical simulation are well matched, and water surface elevation at side wall coincides with each other. When the reservoir elevation was increased up to design flood level, in case of the linear ogee weir the flow over the crest ran through smoothly in the side channel, whereas in cases of linear labyrinth weir and curved labyrinth weirs, the flow discharge was increased by 40 cms, and the flow over the weir crest, rotating counter-clockwise, was submerged in the side channel. The results of the water level-discharge curve revealed that labyrinth weir can increase discharge by 71% compared to the discharge of linear ogee weir at low reservoir elevation since it can have longer effective length. But as water surface elevation rises, the slope of water level-discharge curve of labyrinth weir becomes milder by submergence and nappe interference in the side channel.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.298-304
• /
• 2009

An angled labyrinth seal is used for the diaphragm-packing-ring seal design of steam turbine due to its leakage reduction characteristic. CFD analysis using FLUENT has been performed to predict leakage and determine an optimum slanted angle which yields the best leakage reduction. Results show that the optimum value of slanted angle is $-30^{\circ}$ independent of number of labyrinth teeth, inlet pressure, and tooth height to pitch ratio. 3D CFD analysis has been performed for predicting leakage of the angled labyrinth seal. Comparing with the result of 2D CFD analysis, 3D CFD analysis shows 1.4% smaller.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2000.12a
• /
• pp.158-162
• /
• 2000

Secondary flows in gas turbines, especially those associated tip clearance and labyrinth seals, have become a focus of interest for engine manufacturers. In the past, many analytical and experimental studies, which focused solely on the flows in either tip clearances or seals, have been conducted. This paper presents an analytical model that describes the flow response in a single stage turbine induced by a finite sealing gap at the turbine rotor. The flow is assumed to be axisymmetric and the analysis is done in the meridional plane. Upon going through the stage, the radially uniform upstream flow is assumed to split into two streams one associated with the seal and the other which has gone through the blades. The former is referred to as the leakage flow, and the latter is referred the as the passage flow. The passage flow is assumed to be inviscid and incompressible while the flow in the seal can be modeled as either inviscid or viscous. Thus, the model is capable of predicting the kinematic effects of labyrinth seals on the turbine flow field.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.150-156
• /
• 2009

Precise leakage prediction for annular type seals of turbomachinery is necessary for enhancing their efficiency and various prediction methods have been developed. As the seal passage is designed intricately, the analysis based on Bulk-flow concept which has been mainly used in predicting seal leakage is limited. In order to improve the seal leakage prediction, full Navier-Stokes Equations with turbulent model derived in the seal flow passage have to be solved. In this study, 3D CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis has been performed for predicting leakage of various non-contact type anular seals using FLUENT. Compared to the results by Bulk-flow model analysis, experiment, and 2D CFD analysis, the result of 3D CFD analysis shows improvement in predicting seal leakage, especially for the parallel grooved pump seal.