• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2010

Precise prediction of rotordynamic coefficients for annular type seal of turbomachinery is necessary for enhancing their vibrational stability and various prediction methods have been developed. As the seal passage is designed complicatedly, the analysis based on Bulk-flow concept which has been mainly used in predicting seal dynamics is limited. In order to improve the seal rotordynamic 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 rotordynamic coefficients of non-contact type annular plain seal using FLUENT. Comparing with the results of Bulk-flow model analysis, the result of 3D CFD analysis shows good agreement.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.6 no.1 s.18
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• pp.14-22
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• 2003

In this paper the leakage prediction md rotordynamic analysis of an annular seal with a smooth rotor and spiral-grooved stator is performed. For the development of a theoretical model, the three-control-volume analysis of the circumferentially-grooved seal is expanded by considering pressure reduction due to the pumping effect of spiral groove and pressurized flow through the spiral groove. Validation on the present analysis is achieved by comparisons with available experimental data. For the leakage prediction the present analysis generally shows a reasonable agreement with experimental results. Rotordynamic coefficients for rotor speed with spiral angles show same trend, but the magnitudes of rotordynamic coefficients yield differences between analysis and experimental results.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1217-1225
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• 2001

The governing equations are derived for the analysis of a stepped labyrinth gas seal generally used in high performance compressors, gas turbines, and steam turbines. The bulk-flow is assumed for a single cavity control volume set up in a stepped labyrinth cavity and the flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the circumferential direction. The Moodys wall-friction-factor model is used for the calculation of wall shear stresses in the single cavity control volume. For the reaction force developed by the stepped labyrinth gas seal, linearized zeroth-order and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position. Integration of the resultant first-order pressure distribution along and around the seal defines the rotordynamic coefficients of the stepped labyrinth gas seal. The resulting leakage and rotordynamic characteristics of the stepped labyrinth gas seal are presented and compared with Scharrers theoretical analysis using Blasius wall-friction-factor model. The present analysis shows a good qualitative agreement of leakage characteristics with Scharrers analysis, but underpredicts by about 20%. For the rotordynamic coefficients, the present analysis generally yields smaller predictied values compared with Scharrers analysis.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.349-356
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• 2003

A damper floating ring seal with round hole pattern surfaces is suggested for better leakage control. The flat plate test of the round hole pattern surfaces has been performed to yield an empirical friction factor model. The exact predictions of the lock­up position of the damper floating ring, the leakage performance, and the rotordynamic coefficients of the seal are necessary to evaluate the rotordynamic performance of the turbo pump unit. The governing equations including the empirical friction factor model for round hole pattern surfaces are solved by the Fast Fourier Transform method. The lock­up position, leakage flow rate, and rotordynamic coefficients are evaluated according to the geometric parameters of the damper floating ring seal. Theoretical results show that the damper floating ring seals yield less leakage and better rotordynamic stability than the floating ring seal with a smooth surface.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2540-2549
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• 2022

For a pressurized water reactor power plant, the reactor coolant pump (RCP) is a kernel component. And for a canned motor RCP, the rotor system's properties determines its safety. The liquid coolant inside the canned motor RCP fills clearance between the metal shields of rotor and stator, forming a lengthy clearance flow. The influence of inlet preswirl on rotordynamic coefficients of clearance flow in canned motor RCP and their effects on the rotordynamic characteristics of the pump are numerically and experimentally investigated in this work. A quasi-steady state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method has been used to investigate the influence of inlet preswirl. A vertical experiment rig has also been established for this purpose. Rotordynamic coefficients on different inlet preswirl ratios (IR) are obtained through CFD and experiment. Results show that the cross-coupled stiffness of the clearance flow would change significantly with inlet preswirl, but other rotordynamic coefficients would not change significantly with inlet preswirl. For the case of clearance flow between the stator and rotor cans, influence of inlet preswirl is not so significant as the IR is not large enough.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.26-31
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• 2013

In present 3D CFD study, the method for determining leakage and rotordynamic coefficients of a plain-gas seal is suggested by using the relative coordinate system for steady-state simulation. In order to find the effect of pre-swirl speed at seal inlet, pre-swirl velocity is included as a parameter. Present analysis is verified by comparison with results acquired from Bulk-flow analysis code and published experimental results. The results of 3D CFD rotordynamic coefficients of direct stiffness(K) and cross-coupled stiffness(k) show improvements in prediction. As pre-swirl speed at seal inlet increases, k also increases to destabilize system. However, pre-swirl speed at seal inlet does not show sensitivity to the leakage and rotordynamic coefficients of K and damping(C).

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.4 no.3 s.12
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• pp.29-38
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• 2001

The floating ring seal has the ability of minimizing clearance without the rubbing phenomenon. It is often used in the turbo pump units of liquid rocket engines due to its superior leakage performance. The exact prediction of the lock-up position of the floating ring, the leakage performance, and the rotordynamic coefficients of the seal is necessary to evaluate the rotordynamic performance of the turbo pump unit. The governing equations(which are based on the Bulk-flow Model) we solved by the Fast Fourier Transform method. The lock-up position, leakage flow rate, and rotordynamic coefficients are evaluated according to the geometric parameters of the floating ring seal.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 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 Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.830-837
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• 2004

In this paper, the flow properties of staggered labyrinth seals are investigated. Leakage flowrates and pressure distributions are calculated for this seal. Then the dynamic stiffness and damping coefficients are calculated. The results are compared to the results of the some other papers.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2000

In this paper the leakage prediction and rotordynamic analysis of an annular seal with a smooth rotor and circumferentially grooved stator are performed based on a three-controlvolume theory. The present analysis is validated by comparing with the experimental data of Iwatsubo and Sheng and theoretical results suggested by Marquette and Childs. For the leakage prediction the present analysis shows a good agreement with Marquette and Childs' result and a qualitation agreement with Iwatsubo and Shengs' experimental data. Direct and cross-coupled stiffness coefficients show closer agreement with the experimental values than those of Marquette and Childs. However, direct damping coefficient shows greater discrepancy from the experimental value than Marquette and Childs'.