Three-Dimensional CFD Rotordynamic Analysis of Gas Labyrinth Seals

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jeffrey Moore

Labyrinth seals are utilized inside turbomachinery to provide noncontacting control of internal leakage. These seals can also play an important role in determining the rotordynamic stability of the machine. Traditional labyrinth seal models are based on bulk-flow assumptions where the fluid is assumed to behave as a rigid body affected by shear stress at the interfaces. To model the labyrinth seal cavity, a single, driven vortex is assumed and relationships for the shear stress and divergence angle of the through flow jet are developed. These models, while efficient to compute, typically show poor prediction for seals with small clearances, high running speed, and high pressure.* In an effort to improve the prediction of these components, this work utilizes three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model the labyrinth seal flow path by solving the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations. Unlike bulk-flow techniques, CFD makes no fundamental assumptions on geometry, shear stress at the walls, as well as internal flow structure. The method allows modeling of any arbitrarily shaped domain including stepped and interlocking labyrinths with straight or angled teeth. When only leakage prediction is required, an axisymmetric model is created. To calculate rotordynamic forces, a full 3D, eccentric model is solved. The results demonstrate improved leakage and rotordynamic prediction over bulk-flow approaches compared to experimental measurements.

Author(s):  
J. Jeffrey Moore

Abstract Labyrinth seals are utilized inside turbomachinery to provide non-contacting control of internal leakage. These seals can also play an important role in determining the rotordynamic stability of the machine. Traditional labyrinth seal models are based on bulk-flow assumptions where the fluid is assumed to behave as a rigid body affected by shear stress at the interfaces. To model the labyrinth seal cavity, a single, driven vortex is assumed and relationships for the shear stress and divergence angle of the through flow jet are developed. These models, while efficient to compute, typically show poor prediction for seals with small clearances, high running speed, and high pressure (Childs, 1993). In an effort to improve the prediction of these components, this work utilizes three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model the labyrinth seal flow path by solving the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations. Unlike bulk-flow techniques, CFD makes no fundamental assumptions on geometry, shear stress at the walls, as well as internal flow structure. The method allows modeling of any arbitrarily shaped domain including stepped and interlocking labyrinths with straight or angled teeth. When only leakage prediction is required, an axisymmetric model is created. To calculate rotordynamic forces, a full 3D, eccentric model is solved. The results demonstrate improved leakage and rotordynamic prediction over bulk-flow approaches compared to experimental measurements.


1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Rhode ◽  
S. J. Hensel ◽  
M. J. Guidry

A finite difference method for determining rotordynamic forces on an eccentric whirling labyrinth cavity has been developed. A coordinate-transformation was applied to the Reynolds time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in order to use the modified bipolar coordinate system. The SIMPLER algorithm with QUICK differencing and the high Reynolds number k–ε turbulence model are used to compute the complex turbulent flowfield. A circular whirl orbit about the geometric center of the housing was specified for simplicity. The new model was tested against the rotordynamic force measurements, and close agreement was found. For the cases considered, the radial and tangential force components become rotor dynamically less desirable with increasing inlet swirl. Also, circumferential pressure variations are included for enhanced insight into the flowfield.


Author(s):  
Man-Woong Heo ◽  
Tae-Wan Seo ◽  
Chung-Suk Lee ◽  
Kwang-Yong Kim

This paper presents a parametric study to investigate the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics of a side channel regenerative blower. Flow analysis in the side channel blower was carried out by solving three-dimensional steady and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with the shear stress transport turbulence closure. Aeroacoustic analysis was conducted by solving the variational formulation of Lighthill’s analogy on the basis of the aerodynamic sources extracted from the unsteady flow analysis. The height and width of the blade and the angle between inlet and outlet ports were selected as three geometric parameters, and their effects on the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performances of the blower have been investigated. The results showed that the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performances were enhanced by decreasing height and width of blade. It was found that angle between inlet and outlet ports significantly influences the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performances of the blower due to the stripper leakage flow.


2013 ◽  
Vol 694-697 ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
Yue Jun Ma ◽  
Ji Tao Zhao ◽  
Yu Min Yang

In the paper, on the basis of three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the RNG κ-ε turbulence model, adopting Three-dimensional unstructured grid and pressure connection the implicit correction SIMPLEC algorithm, and using MRF model which is supported by Fluent, this paper carries out numerical simulation of the internal flow of the centrifugal pump in different operation points. According to the results of numerical simulation, this paper analyzes the bad flow phenomena of the centrifugal pump, and puts forward suggests about configuration perfected of the centrifugal pump. In addition, this paper is also predicted the experimental value of the centrifugal pump performance, which is corresponding well with the measured value.


1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.-B. Shim ◽  
K.-S. Chang

Laminar vortical flow around a fully opened Bjo¨rk–Shiley valve in an aorta is obtained by solving the three-dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Used is a noniterative implicit finite-element Navier–Stokes code developed by the authors, which makes use of the well-known finite difference algorithm PISO. The code utilizes segregated formulation and efficient iterative matrix solvers such as PCGS and ICCG. Computational results show that the three-dimensional vortical flow is recirculating with large shear in the sinus region of the valve chamber. Passing through the valve, the flow is split into major upper and lower jet flows. The spiral vortices generated by the disk are advected in the wake and attenuated rapidly downstream by diffusion. It is shown also that the shear stress becomes maximum near the leading edge of the disk valve.


Author(s):  
K. Kwanka ◽  
J. Sobotzik ◽  
R. Nordmann

Non-contacting labyrinth seals are still the most common constructive elements used to minimize leakage losses in turbomachinery between areas with high pressure and areas with low pressure. Unfortunately, the leakage flow through the labyrinth seal generates forces which can have a great impact on the dynamics of the turborotor. Particularly in cases of instability, the turbomachinery is restricted in its power or rotating speed because of violent self-excited vibrations of the rotor. The occurrence of self-excited rotor vibrations due to lateral forces must definitely be excluded. To consider the labyrinth forces in Finite-Element prediction, a set of preferably exact dynamic coefficients is required. Numerical approaches used to calculate the coefficients are based on Navier-Stokes equations. A comparison with experimental data is essential for a validation of the calculation. The experimental identification is difficult, because of the littleness of the forces to be measured in gas seals. Especially the non-conservative coefficients, cross-coupled stiffness and direct damping, show a good agreement in both magnitude and trend depending on the entry swirl of the seal.


2016 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand Bhandarkar ◽  
Souraseni Basu ◽  
P. Manna ◽  
Debasis Chakraborty

<p>Combined external-internal flow simulation is required for the estimation of aerodynamic forces and moments of high speed air-breathing vehicle design. A wingless, X-tail configuration with asymmetrically placed rectangular air intake is numerically explored for which experimental data is available for different angles of attack. The asymmetrically placed air intakes and protrusions make the flow field highly three-dimensional and existing empirical relations are inadequate for preliminary design. Three dimensional Navier Stokes equations along with SST-kω turbulence model were solved with a commercial CFD solver to analyse the combined external and internal flow field of the configuration at different angles of attack. Estimated aerodynamic coefficients match well with experimental data and estimated drag coefficient are within 8.5 per cent of experimental data. Intake performance parameters were also evaluated for different angles of attack.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 444-445 ◽  
pp. 423-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Quan Wang ◽  
Shi Qi Su ◽  
Yan Yan

To research the leakage characteristics and sealing mechanism of the comb labyrinth seals, three-dimensional solutions of NavierStokes governing equations are utilized to investigate the leakage characteristics of the comb Labyrinth for water sealing in leakage flow passage of Francis turbine. The finite volume method is used to discretize the Navier-Stokes equations. The quick scheme and the second central scheme are applied to solve convection and diffusion terms respectively. Distributions of velocity and streamline as well as some flow structure in leakage flow passage are gained at different Reynolds numbers. The results show that vortex generated in the comb consumes kinetic energy and causes the pressure decrease greatly, which play a major role in decreasing the leakage flux.


A unique discrete form of the Navier-Stokes equations for unsteady, three-dimensional, incompressible flow has been used to study vortex breakdown numerically. A Burgers-type vortex was introduced along the central axis of the computational domain, and allowed to evolve in space and time. By varying the strength of the vortex and the free stream axial velocity distribution, using a previously developed Rossby number criterion as a guide, the location and size of the vortex breakdown region was controlled. While the boundaries of the vortex breakdown bubble appear to be nominally symmetric, the internal flow field is not. Consequently, the mechanisms for mixing and entrainment required to sustain the bubble region are different from those suggested by earlier axisymmetric models. Results presented in this study, for a Reynolds number of 200, are in good qualitative agreement with higher Reynolds number experimental observations, and a variety of plots have been presented to help illuminate the fluid physics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 7369-7378
Author(s):  
Ky-Quang Pham ◽  
Xuan-Truong Le ◽  
Cong-Truong Dinh

Splitter blades located between stator blades in a single-stage axial compressor were proposed and investigated in this work to find their effects on aerodynamic performance and operating stability. Aerodynamic performance of the compressor was evaluated using three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations using the k-e turbulence model with a scalable wall function. The numerical results for the typical performance parameters without stator splitter blades were validated in comparison with experimental data. The numerical results of a parametric study using four geometric parameters (chord length, coverage angle, height and position) of the stator splitter blades showed that the operational stability of the single-stage axial compressor enhances remarkably using the stator splitter blades. The splitters were effective in suppressing flow separation in the stator domain of the compressor at near-stall condition which affects considerably the aerodynamic performance of the compressor.


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