Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Nonmetallic Labyrinth Seals Based on Fluid–Solid–Thermal Coupling
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 4
Abstract
In this paper, static and dynamic characteristics of a labyrinth seal were studied by fluid–solid–thermal coupling analysis (FSTCA). Deformation and stress distribution of nonmetallic labyrinth seals (i.e., PEEK and PEEK-CA30) were further analyzed to investigate the effects on leakage and rotor stability compared to that of metallic material (i.e., AL alloy). The results show that a higher pressure drop of airflow at the last tooth along the airflow direction suggested a more remarkable energy conversion to kinetic energy. Airflow velocity at the tooth root was obviously lower than that at the tooth tip because of vortex in tooth cavity. Maximum deformation of the seal occurred at tip of the first tooth, while equivalent stress mainly distributed at the root. Both axial and radial deformations led to deformations of seal cavities and upward movements of the teeth, resulting in greater radial clearances. PEEK-CA30 had the lower radial and axial maximum deformations compared to PEEK and AL alloy, which in turns caused a lower leakage with increasing inlet temperature and inlet/outlet pressure ratio and a higher effective damping coefficient under different vortex frequencies, indicating a better seal performance and a better stability of rotor system. The equivalent stress for AL alloy deeply depended on inlet temperature of airflow due to higher elasticity modulus, higher thermal conductivity and higher thermal expansion coefficient, which made the seal more likely to fail under higher inlet temperature.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This study is co-supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52075346 and 51675351). The project was supported by Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program (Grant No. XLYC2007077) and the Advanced Aerodynamic Innovation Workstation of China (Grant No. HKC2020-02-030). All authors would like to thank them.
References
Benckert, H., and J. Wachter. 1980. “Flow induced spring coefficients of labyrinth seals for application in rotor dynamics.” In Instability problem in high-performance turbomachinery, 189–212. Washington, DC: NASA.
Chen, H. L., Y. H. Liu, B. J. Zhao, T. Liu, and Q. Wang. 2014. “Deformation analysis of upstream pumping mechanical seals based on one-way fluid-solid coupling.” J. Jiangsu Univ. 35 (1): 25–28. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1671-7775.2014.01.005.
Chen, Y., Z. Li, X. Yan, and J. Li. 2018. “Effects of mushroom-shaped tooth wear on the leakage performance and rotordynamic coefficients of labyrinth seals.” In Proc., ASME Turbo Expo, 144–153. New York: ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2018-75147.
Childs, D. W., and J. Wade. 2004. “Rotordynamic coefficient and leakage characteristics for hole-pattern-stator annular gas seals measurements versus predictions.” ASME J. Tribol. 126 (2): 326–333. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1611502.
David, L. R., and G. A. Richard. 2001. “Computed effect of rub-groove size on stepped labyrinth seal performance.” Tribol. Trans. 44 (4): 523–532. https://doi.org/10.1080/10402000108982491.
Fei, C. W., H. Li, C. Lu, L. Han, B. Keshtegar, and O. Taylan. 2022a. “Vectorial surrogate modeling method for multi-objective reliability design.” Appl. Math. Modell. 109 (3): 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2022.03.033.
Fei, C. W., J. R. Wen, L. Han, B. Huang, and C. Yan. 2022b. “Optimizable image segmentation method with superpixels and feature migration for aerospace structures.” Aerospace 9 (8): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9080465.
Han, L., P. Y. Li, S. J. Yu, C. Chen, C. W. Fei, and C. Lu. 2022. “Creep/fatigue accelerated failure of ni-based superalloy turbine blade: Microscopic characteristics and void migration mechanism.” Int. J. Fatigue 154 (6): 106558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2021.106558.
Hirano, T., Z. Guo, and R. G. Kirk. 2005. “Application of computation fluid dynamic analysis for rotating machinery-Part II: Labyrinth seal analysis.” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power 127 (4): 820–826. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1808426.
Iwatsubo, T., and B. S. Yang. 1988. “The effects of elastic deformation on seal dynamics.” J. Vib. Acoust. 110 (1): 59–64. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3269481.
John, K. W., A. Eduardo, and P. Lester. 2004. “Thermoplastic labyrinth seal for centrifugal compressors.” In Proc., 33rd Turbomach. Symp. College Station, TX: Texas A&M Univ.
Kirk, R. G. 1990. “A method for calculating labyrinth seal inlet swirl velocity.” ASME J. Vib. Acoust. 112 (3): 380–383. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2930519.
Launder, B. E., and D. B. Spalding. 1974. “The numerical computation of turbulent flows.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Energy 1974 (1): 269–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-7825(74)90029-2.
Li, H., S. Q. Bu, C. Lu, S. Ma, and C. W. Fei. 2022. “Synthetical modal parameters identification method of damped oscillation signals in power system.” Appl. Sci. 12 (9): 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094668.
Li, J., X. Yan, and Z. Feng. 2006. “Effects of pressure ratio and fin pitch on leakage flow characteristics in high rotating labyrinth seals.” In Proc., ASME Turbo Expo, 1591–1598. New York: ASME.
Li, Z., J. Li, X. Yan, and Z. Feng. 2011. “Effects of pressure ratio and rotational speed on leakage flow and cavity pressure in the staggered labyrinth seal.” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power 133 (11): 114503. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4003788.
Luo, J., H. J. Dohmen, and F. Benra. 2018. “Coupled thermal-structural-fluid numerical analysis of gas lubricated mechanical seals.” In Proc., ASME Turbo Expo, 1–11. New York: ASME.
Reis, J., J. Potes, L. Fialho, A. Marques, and J. Simões. 2004. Citotoxicity study of carbon-fibre reinforced PEEK. Évora, Portuga: Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Évora.
Shukla, I., A. S. Tupkari, and A. K. Raman. 2012. “Wall Y+ approach for dealing with turbulent flow through a constant area duct.” In Proc., IP Conf., 144–153. College Park, MD: American Institute of Physics.
Subramanian, S., A. S. Sekhar, and B. Prasad. 2015a. “On the choice of initial clearance and prediction of leakage flow rate for a rotating gas turbine seal.” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part C: J. Mech. Eng. Sci. 230 (10): 1586–1601. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406215581692.
Subramanian, S., A. S. Sekhar, and B. Prasad. 2015b. “Influence of combined radial location and growth on the leakage performance of a rotating labyrinth gas turbine seal.” J. Mech. Sci. Technol. 29 (6): 2535–2545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0545-8.
Subramanian, S., A. S. Sekhar, and B. Prasad. 2016. “Rotordynamic characteristics of rotating labyrinth gas turbine seal with centrifugal growth.” Tribol. Int. 97 (May): 349–359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2016.01.003.
Sun, D., X. D. Wang, C. W. Fei, S. Wang, and Y. T. Ai. 2018. “A novel negative dislocated seal and influential parameter analyses of static/rotordynamic characteristics.” J. Mech. Sci. Technol. 32 (9): 4125–4134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-0810-8.
Tang, H. N., L. Lu, and S. J. Wang. 2015. “Fluid-structure interaction analysis of tooth profile angle effect on labyrinth seal performance.” Lubr. Eng. 40 (10): 36–40. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0254-0150.2015.10.007.
Wang, Z. T., Q. X. Zhang, S. X. Li, and J. N. Cai. 2016. “Study on the fluid-solid thermal coupled characters of mechanical seal used in hot oil pump.” Mach. Des. Manuf. 2016 (3): 14–17. https://doi.org/10.19356/j.cnki.1001-3997.2016.03.004.
Yan, X., J. Li, and Z. Feng. 2010. “Effects of inlet preswirl and cell diameter and depth on honeycomb seal characteristics.” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power 132 (12): 122506. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001296.
Yang, D. D., M. M. Hao, Y. Zhang, D. H. Zhang, Y. Zhuang, and X. Y. Wang. 2015. “Fluid-solid-heat coupling study on liquid film seal for high temperature oil pumps.” Appl. Math. Mech. 36 (3): 274–284. https://doi.org/10.3879/j.issn.1000-0887.2015.03.005.
Zhang, L. Z., X. X. Chen, and Y. Chang. 2018. “Fluid solid coupling analysis of PEEK labyrinth seal.” Mach. Des. Manuf. 2018 (5): 183–186. https://doi.org/10.19356/j.cnki.1001-3997.2018.05.054.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 4 • July 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 11, 2022
Accepted: Jan 30, 2023
Published online: Apr 8, 2023
Published in print: Jul 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Sep 8, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.