An axisymetric numerical model of face seals operating with compressible fluids at high pressure is presented. Inertia terms are included using an averaged method and thermal effects are considered. The real behavior of gases at high pressure is taken into account. An original exit boundary condition is used to deal with choked flow. The model is validated by comparison with experimental data and analytical solutions. Finally, the influence of the operating conditions on the performance of a high-pressure gas face seal is analyzed. It is shown that when the flow is choked, the mass flow rate is reduced and the behavior of the seal becomes unstable.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
seals (stoppers), compressible flow, Navier-Stokes equations
Topics:
Flow (Dynamics), Fluids, High pressure (Physics), Pressure, Temperature, Inertia (Mechanics), Boundary-value problems, Modeling
1.
Johnson
,
R. L.
, and
Lawrence
,
L. P.
, 1969, “
Shaft Face Seal With Self-Acting for Advanced Gas Turbine Engines
,” in
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Fluid Sealing
,
BHRA
,
Philadelphia
, pp.
252
–
261
.
2.
Gabriel
,
R. P.
, 1978, “
Fundamentals of Spiral Groove Noncontacting Face Seals
,”
Lubr. Eng.
0024-7154,
35
(
7
), pp.
367
–
375
.
3.
Sedy
,
J.
, 1978, “
Improved Performance of Film-Riding Gas Seals Through Enhancement of Hydrodynamic Effects
,”
ASLE Trans.
0569-8197,
23
(
1
), pp.
35
–
44
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
Malanoski
,
S. B.
, and
Pan
,
C. H. T.
, 1965, “
The Static and Dynamic Characteristics of the Spiral-Grooved Thrust Bearing
,”
ASME J. Basic Eng.
0021-9223,
87
, pp.
547
–
558
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Bonneau
,
D.
,
Huitric
,
J.
, and
Tournerie
,
B.
, 1993, “
Finite Element Analysis of Grooved Gas Thrust Bearings and Grooved Gas Face Seals
,”
ASME J. Tribol.
0742-4787,
115
(
3
), pp.
348
–
354
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Hernandez
,
P.
, and
Boudet
,
J.
, 1995, “
Modeling of the Behavior of Dynamical Gas Seals: Calculation With a Finite Element Method Implicitly Assuring the Continuity of Flow
,”
IMechE Conf. Trans.
1356-1448,
209
(
3
), pp.
195
–
201
.
7.
Zirkelback
,
N.
, and
San Andrés
,
L.
, 1999, “
Effect of Frequency Excitation on Force Coefficients of Spiral Groove Gas Seals
,”
ASME J. Tribol.
0742-4787,
121
(
4
), pp.
853
–
863
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Constantinescu
,
V. N.
, 1995,
Laminar Viscous Fluid
,
Mechanical Engineering Series
,
Springer-Verlag
,
New York
, Chap. 11.
9.
Zuk
,
J.
,
Ludwig
,
L. P.
, and
Johnson
,
R. L.
, 1971, “
Compressible Flow Across Shaft Face Seals
,”
5th International Conference on Fluid Sealing
,
BHRA
, Coventry.
10.
Poling
,
B. E.
,
Prausnitz
,
J. M.
, and
O’Connell
,
J. P.
, 2001,
The Properties of Gases and Liquids
, 5th ed.,
McGraw-Hill
,
New York
.
11.
Bupara
,
S. S.
,
Walowit
,
J. A.
, and
Allen
,
C. M.
, 1967, “
Gas Lubrication and Distortion of High Pressure Seals for Compressors
,” in
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Fluid Sealing
,
BHRA
,
Cambridge
, Paper No. B3.
12.
Constantinescu
,
V. N.
, and
Galetuse
,
S.
, 1982, “
Operating Characteristics of Journal Bearings in Turbulent Inertial Flow
,”
ASME J. Lubr. Technol.
0022-2305,
104
(
1
), pp.
173
–
179
.
13.
Brunetière
,
N.
, and
Tournerie
,
B.
, 2005, “
The Effect of Inertia on Radial Flows—Application to Hydrostatic Seals
,” in
Proceedings of WTC2005, World Tribology Congress III, September 12–16
, Washington, D.C., Paper No. WTC2005-63336.
15.
Zienkiewicz
,
O. C.
, and
Taylor
,
R. L.
, 2000,
The Finite Element Method
, 5th ed.,
Butterworth Heinemann
,
Oxford, UK
, Vol.
3
.
Copyright © 2006
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.