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Leakage and rotordynamic performance of a mixed labyrinth seal compared with that of a staggered labyrinth seal

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Abstract

Minimizing unwanted leakage between stationary and rotating parts is the main function of annular seals. A Mixed labyrinth seal (MLS) with two specially designed lateral teeth installed on a Staggered labyrinth seal (SLS) is proposed to improve seal performance. A 3D computational fluid dynamics calculation model of MLS is set up. The twin vortex structure that appears in the seal cavity and flow path is more complicated in MLS than in SLS. MLS reduces leakage by about 30 % compared with SLS. Rotordynamic analysis of MLS is also conducted by calculating cross-coupled stiffness. The cross-coupled stiffness of MLS is about 75 % to 85 % that of SLS. The dependence of seal performance on the parameters of the lateral teeth is investigated through a simulation test. The lateral teeth should be set in the middle of the seal cavity, and the gap between the two lateral teeth should be similar to the tip clearance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Research Center of Turbo-generator Vibration, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

    Mingjie Zhang, Jiangang Yang, Wanjun Xu & Yalei Xia

Authors
  1. Mingjie Zhang
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  2. Jiangang Yang
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  3. Wanjun Xu
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  4. Yalei Xia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiangang Yang.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Sangyoup Lee

Mingjie Zhang is studying for his Master’s degree in engineering science in the Department of Power Engineering, Southeast University. His research interests include rotordynamics and flow-induced vibration in turbomachinery.

Jiangang Yang received his Ph.D. from the Department of Power Engineering, Southeast University, in 1995 and is the Deputy Director of National Engineering Research Center of Turbo-generator Vibration. His research areas include rotating machinery fault monitoring and diagnosis, rotordynamics, and flowinduced vibration.

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Zhang, M., Yang, J., Xu, W. et al. Leakage and rotordynamic performance of a mixed labyrinth seal compared with that of a staggered labyrinth seal. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 2261–2277 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0423-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0423-7

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