• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2007

Leakage reduction through annular type labyrinth seals of steam turbine is necessary for enhancing their efficiency. In this study, modified geometry of the original combination-type-staggered-labyrinth seal has been suggested and numerical analysis for leakage prediction has been carried out for the modified-combination-type-staggered-labyrinth seal both based on bulk-flow model and using the CFD code FLUENT. The theoretical analysis based on bulk-flow model yields leakage reduction of the modified combination type staggered labyrinth seal by about 11%. Comparing with the result of Bulk-flow model analysis, the leakage result of CFD analysis shows reasonable agreement within 9.8% error.

• 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.22 no.2
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2006

Leakage reduction through annular type labyrinth seals of steam turbine is necessary for enhancing their efficiency and the precise prediction method of seal leakage is needed. In this study, numerical analysis for leakage prediction of the combination-type-staggered-labyrinth seal has been carried out using FLUENT 6 which is commercial CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code based on FVM (Finite Volume Method) and SIMPLE algorism. The present CFD results are verified with the theoretical analysis based on Bulk-flow concept which has been mainly used in predicting seal leakage. Comparing with the result of Bulk-flow model analysis, the leakage result of CFD analysis shows good agreement within 7.1% error.