Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Numerical simulation on rotordynamic characteristics of annular seal under uniform and non-uniform flows

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Currently, the flow field of annular seals disturbed by the circular whirl motion of rotors is usually solved using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to evaluate the five rotordynamic coefficients. The simulations are based on the traditional quasi-steady method. In this work, an improved quasi-steady method along with the transient method was presented to compute the rotordynamic coefficients of a long seal. By comparisons with experimental data, the shortcomings of quasi-steady methods have been identified. Then, the effects of non-uniform incoming flow on seal dynamic coefficients were studied by transient simulations. Results indicate that the long seal has large cross stiffness k and direct mass M which are not good for rotor stability, while the transient method is more suitable for the long seal for its excellent performance in predicting M. When the incoming flow is non-uniform, the stiffness coefficients vary with the eccentric directions. Based on the rotordynamic coefficients under uniform incoming flow, the linearized fluid force formulas, which can consider the effects of non-uniform incoming flow, have been presented and can well explain the varying-stiffness phenomenon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ARGHIR M, FRENE J. Static and dynamic analysis of annular seals [C]// Proceedings of ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting 2006. New York, USA: ASME, 2006: 517–526.

    Google Scholar 

  2. PING Shi-liang, TAN Shan-guang, WU Da-zhuan, WANG Le-qin. Analysis on modeling rotor system with sidling bearing and ring seal by using FEM [C]// Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Fluid Machinery and Fluid Engineering. Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany: Springer, 2009: 366–370.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. CHILDS D W. Turbomachinery rotordynamics: phenomena, modeling, and analysis [M]. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  4. HIRS G G. A bulk-flow theory for turbulence in lubricant films [J]. Journal of Tribology, 1973, 95(2): 137–145.

    Google Scholar 

  5. MARQUETTE O R, CHILDS D W, SAN ANDRES L. Eccentricity effects on the rotordynamic coefficients of plain annular seals: Theory versus experiment [J]. Journal of Tribology, 1997, 119(3): 443–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. NELSON C C, NGUYEN D T. Comparison of Hirs’ equation with Moody’s equation for determining rotordynamic coefficients of annular pressure seals [J]. Journal of Tribology, 1987, 109(1): 144–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. SUN Dan, YANG Jian-gang, GUO rui, ZHANG Wan-fu, AI Yan-ting. A trigonometric series expansion based method for the research of static and dynamic characteristics of eccentric seals [J]. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 2014, 28(6): 2111–2120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. GUPTA M K, CHILDS D W. Rotordynamic stability predictions for centrifugal compressors using a bulk-flow model to predict impeller shroud force and moment coefficients [J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2010, 132(9): 091402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. TAM L T, PRZEKWAS A J, MUSZYNSKA A, HENDRICKS R C, BRAUN M J, MULLEN R L. Numerical and analytical study of fluid dynamic forces in seals and bearings [J]. Journal of Vibration, Acoustics, Stress, and Reliability in Design, 1988, 110(3): 315–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. HA T W, CHOE B S. Numerical prediction of rotordynamic coefficients for an annular-type plain-gas seal using 3D CFD analysis [J]. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 2014, 28(2): 505–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. ZHANG Meng, WANG Xiao-fang, XU Sheng-li, WAN Xue-li. Analysis of the stiffness of the incompressible seal in pump [J]. Journal of Harbin Engineering University, 2014, 35(3): 347–352. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  12. UNTAROIU A, HAYRAPETIAN V, UNTAROIU C D, WOOD H G, SCHIAVELLO B, MCGUIRE J. On the dynamic properties of pump liquid seals [J]. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 2013, 135(5): 051104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. GAO R, KIRK G. CFD study on stepped and drum balance labyrinth seal [J]. Tribology Transactions, 2013, 56(4): 663–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. MOORE J J, RANSOM D L, VIANA F. Rotordynamic force prediction of centrifugal compressor impellers using computational fluid dynamics [J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2011, 133(4): 042504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. MOORE J J, PALAZZOLO A B. CFD comparison to 3D laser anemometer and rotordynamic force measurements for grooved liquid annular seals [J]. Journal of Tribology, 1999, 121(2): 306–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. YAN Xin, LI Jun, FENG Zhen-ping. Investigations on the rotordynamic characteristics of a hole-pattern seal using transient CFD and periodic circular orbit model [J]. Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, 2011, 133(4): 041007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. YAN Xin, HE Kun, LI Jun, FENG Zhen-ping. A generalized prediction method for rotordynamic coefficients of annular gas seals [J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2015, 137(9): 092506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. NIELSEN K K, JØNCK K, UNDERBAKKE H. Hole-pattern and honeycomb seal rotordynamic forces: Validation of CFD-based prediction techniques [J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2012, 134(12): 122505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. KANEMORI Y, IWATSUBO T. Experimental study of dynamic fluid forces and moments for a long annular seal [J]. Journal of Tribology, 1992, 114(4): 773–778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. ANSYS FLUENT 14.0 Theory Guide [CP/DK]. USA: ANSYS Inc., 2011.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Energy and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Da-zhuan Wu  (吴大转), Xin-kuo Jiang  (姜新阔), Peng Wu  (武鹏) & Le-qin Wang  (王乐勤)

  2. State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power Transmission and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Da-zhuan Wu  (吴大转)

  3. Department of Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Lausanne, 1024, Switzerland

    Ning Chu  (初宁)

Authors
  1. Da-zhuan Wu  (吴大转)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xin-kuo Jiang  (姜新阔)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ning Chu  (初宁)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Peng Wu  (武鹏)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Le-qin Wang  (王乐勤)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Da-zhuan Wu  (吴大转).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(51276213) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(2013BAF01B00) supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program of China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, Dz., Jiang, Xk., Chu, N. et al. Numerical simulation on rotordynamic characteristics of annular seal under uniform and non-uniform flows. J. Cent. South Univ. 24, 1889–1897 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-017-3596-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-017-3596-4

Key words

Search

Navigation