• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.2 no.3 s.4
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• pp.52-58
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• 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 $10^5$.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.197-203
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• 1996

This study is to analyze the rotordynamic effect of surface-friction- factor characteristics on an annular seal. The honeycomb geometry which shows friction-factor-jump phenomena is used in this study. A rotordynamic analysis for a contered annular seal has been developed by incorporating empirical friction-factor model for honeycomb stator surfaces. The results of the analysis for the honeycomb seal showing the friction-factor jump is compared to the non- friction-factor-jump case. The results yield that the friction-factor-jump decreasesdirect stiffness and cross coupled stiffness coefficients, and increases damping coefficient to stabilize rotating machinery in a rotordynamic point of view. The analysis of the honeyeomb seal for the friction-factor-jump case shows reasonably good compared to experimental results, especially, for cross coupled and damping coeffcients.

• 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.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2022

In this research, the rotordynamic characteristics of the labyrinth seal with and without swirl brake were predicted using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model. Based on previous studies, a simple swirl brake consisting of square vanes without stagger angle is designed and placed in front of the seal inlet. The rotating frame of reference is utilized to consider the whirling motion of the rotor in the steady-state analysis since the whirling motion is transient behavior in nature. CFD analysis was performed in the range of -1 to 1 pre-swirl ratio for a given seal and swirl brake design and operating conditions. The CFD analysis result shows that the swirl brake effectively reduces the pre-swirl since the circumferential fluid velocity of labyrinth seal with swirl brake was lower than that without swirl brake. The cross-coupled stiffness coefficient, which is greatly affected by the circumferential fluid velocity, increased with an increasing pre-swirl ratio in a seal without a swirl brake but showed a low value in a seal with a swirl brake. The change in the damping coefficient was relatively small. The effective damping coefficient of the labyrinth seal with swirl brake was generally constant and showed a higher value than the labyrinth seal without swirl brake.

• 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.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.849-855
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• 1998

An analysis of lateral hydrodynamic forces of compressor labyrinth seals is presented. Basic equations are derived using a two-control-volume model for compressible flow. Blasius' wall friction-factor formula and jet flow theory are used for the calculaton of wall shear stresses and recirculation velocity in the cavity. Linearized zeroth-order and first-order perturbation equations are developed for a small motion about the centered position by expansion in the eccentricity ratio. Integraton of the resultant first-order pressure distribution over the seal defines the rotordynamic coefficients. As an application a rotordynamic analysis of the balance drum labyrinth seal found in an ethylene regrigeration copmressor is carried out. The rotordynamic characteristic results of the labyrinth seal are presented and compared with other types of seals, honeycomb seal and smooth 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.

• 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).

• 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'.