Lateral Forces From Single Gland Rotor Labyrinth Seals in Turbines

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 626-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bum Ho Song ◽  
Seung Jin Song
Keyword(s):  
Axial Direction ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Flow Response ◽  
Lateral Forces ◽  
Downstream Flow ◽  
Shrouded Rotor ◽  
Upstream Flow ◽  
Sealing Gap

Even though interest in labyrinth seal flows has increased recently, an analytical model capable of predicting turbine flow response to labyrinth seals is still lacking. Therefore, this paper presents a new model to predict flow response in an axial turbine stage with a shrouded rotor. A concentric model is first developed, and this model is used to develop an eccentric model. Basic conservation laws are used in each model, and a nonaxisymmetric sealing gap is prescribed for the eccentric model. Thus, the two models can predict the evolution of a uniform upstream flow into a nonuniform downstream flow. In turbines with concentric shrouded rotors, the seal flow is retarded in the axial direction and tangentially underturned. In turbines with eccentric shrouded rotors, flow azimuthally migrates away from and pressure reaches its peak near the maximum sealing gap region. Finally, the rotordynamic implications of such flow nonuniformities are discussed and compared against eccentric unshrouded turbine predictions.

Lateral Forces From Single Gland Rotor Labyrinth Seals in Turbines

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bum Ho Song ◽  
Seung Jin Song
Keyword(s):  
Axial Direction ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Flow Response ◽  
Lateral Forces ◽  
Downstream Flow ◽  
Shrouded Rotor ◽  
Upstream Flow ◽  
Sealing Gap

Even though interest in labyrinth seal flows has increased recently, an analytical model capable of predicting turbine flow response to labyrinth seals is still lacking. Therefore, this paper presents a new model to predict flow response in an axial turbine stage with a shrouded rotor. A concentric model is first developed, and this model is used to develop an eccentric model. Basic conservation laws are used in each model, and a non-axisymmetric sealing gap is prescribed for the eccentric model. Thus, the two models can predict the evolution of a uniform upstream flow into a non-uniform downstream flow. In turbines with concentric shrouded rotors, the seal flow is retarded in the axial direction and tangentially underturned. In turbines with eccentric shrouded rotors, flow azimuthally migrates away from and pressure reaches its peak near the maximum sealing gap region. Finally, the rotordynamic implications of such flow non-uniformities are discussed and compared against eccentric unshrouded turbine predictions.

Tip-Shroud Labyrinth Seal Effect on the Flutter Stability of Turbine Rotor Blades

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roque Corral ◽  
Michele Greco ◽  
Almudena Vega
Keyword(s):  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Stability Prediction ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Turbine Rotor Blade ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Shrouded Rotor ◽  
Tip Shroud

Abstract The effect of the tip-shroud seal on the flutter onset of a shrouded turbine rotor blade, representative of a modern gas turbine, is numerically tested and the contribution to the work-per-cycle of the aerofoil and the tip-shroud are clearly identified. The numerical simulations are conducted using a linearised frequency domain solver. The flutter stability of the shrouded rotor blade is evaluated for an edgewise mode and compared with the standard industrial approach of not including the tip-shroud cavity. It turns out that including the tip shroud significantly changes the stability prediction of the rotor blade. This is due to the fact that the amplitude of the unsteady pressure created in the inter-fin cavity, due to the motion of the airfoil, is much greater than that of the airfoil. It is concluded that the combined effect of the seal and its platform tends to stabilise the rotor blade for all the examined nodal diameters and reduced frequencies. Finally, the numerical results are shown to be consistent with those obtained using an analytical simplified model to account for the effect of the labyrinth seals.

scholarly journals Effects of Double-Side Labyrinth Seals on Aerodynamic Performance in a Transonic Shrouded Turbine Stage

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihang Li ◽  
Shaowen Chen ◽  
Hongyan Liu ◽  
Zhihua Zhou ◽  
Songtao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Outlet Section ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Transonic Turbine

Abstract Labyrinth seals on both rotor casing and blade tip as an effective method to control the leakage flowrate of the shroud and improve aerodynamic performances in a transonic turbine stage are investigated in this study. Compared to the case without the labyrinth seal structure, the cases with three different types of sealing teeth have been shown to reduce significantly the tip leakage flow by computational simulations. The double-side sealing teeth case reduces the leakage flowrate mleakage/mpassage from 3.4% to 1.3% and increases the efficiency by 1.4%, which is the maximum efficiency improvement of all cases. The sealing structures increase the loss inside the shroud while reducing the momentum mixing between shroud leakage flow and mainstream. Therefore, the circumferential distribution of leakage velocity is changed, as well as the distribution of high-loss zones at turbine outlet. Furthermore, the leakage-vortex loss, which is associated with the blockage effect of sealing structure to the tip leakage flow, gains more improvement than the passage-vortex at the rotor outlet section in double-side seal case. In addition, it has also been found that with a larger gap at tip, the double-side seal has better effects of reducing the leakage flow and improving the aerodynamic performance in the transonic turbine stage.

Tip-Shroud Labyrinth Seal Effect on the Flutter Stability of Turbine Rotor Blades

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roque Corral ◽  
Michele Greco ◽  
Almudena Vega
Keyword(s):  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Turbine Rotor Blade ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Shrouded Rotor ◽  
Tip Shroud ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The effect of the tip-shroud seal on the flutter onset of a shrouded turbine rotor blade, representative of a modern gas turbine, is numerically tested, and the contributions to the work per cycle of the aerofoil and the tip shroud are clearly identified. The numerical simulations are conducted using a linearized frequency-domain solver. The flutter stability of the shrouded rotor blade is evaluated for an edgewise mode and compared with the standard industrial approach of not including the tip-shroud cavity. It turns out that including the tip shroud significantly changes the stability prediction of the rotor blade. This is due to two facts. First, the amplitude of the unsteady pressure created in the inter-fin cavity due to the motion of the airfoil is much greater than that of the airfoil. The impact of this contribution increases with the frequency. Second, the effect of the outer shroud of the rotor blade, which usually is not included either in the simulations, has an opposite trend with the nodal diameter than the airfoil reducing the maximum and minimum damping. It is concluded that the combined effect of the seal and its platform tends to stabilize the edgewise mode of the rotor blade for all the examined nodal diameters and reduced frequencies. Finally, the numerical results are shown to be consistent with those obtained using an analytical simplified model to account for the effect of the labyrinth seals.

Influence of a Honeycomb Facing on the Flow Through a Stepped Labyrinth Seal

2000 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Schramm ◽  
K. Willenborg ◽  
S. Kim ◽  
S. Wittig
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Honeycomb Structure ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Aero Engines

This paper reports numerical predictions and measurements of the flow field in a stepped labyrinth seal. The theoretical work and the experimental investigations were successfully combined to gain a comprehensive understanding of the flow patterns existing in such elements. In order to identify the influence of the honeycomb structure, a smooth stator as well as a seal configuration with a honeycomb facing mounted on the stator wall were investigated. The seal geometry is representative of typical three-step labyrinth seals of modern aero engines. The flow field was predicted using a commercial finite volume code with the standard k-ε turbulence model. The computational grid includes the basic seal geometry as well as the three-dimensional honeycomb structures.

Impact of Frequency Dependence of Gas Labyrinth Seal Rotordynamic Coefficients on Centrifugal Compressor Stability

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Vannini ◽  
Manish R. Thorat ◽  
Dara W. Childs ◽  
Mirko Libraschi
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Frequency Dependent ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Frequency Independent ◽  
Rotor Surface ◽  
Independent Model

A numerical model developed by Thorat & Childs [1] has indicated that the conventional frequency independent model for labyrinth seals is invalid for rotor surface velocities reaching a significant fraction of Mach 1. A theoretical one-control-volume (1CV) model based on a leakage equation that yields a reasonably good comparison with experimental results is considered in the present analysis. The numerical model yields frequency-dependent rotordynamic coefficients for the seal. Three real centrifugal compressors are analyzed to compare stability predictions with and without frequency-dependent labyrinth seal model. Three different compressor services are selected to have a comprehensive scenario in terms of pressure and molecular weight (MW). The molecular weight is very important for Mach number calculation and consequently for the frequency dependent nature of the coefficients. A hydrogen recycle application with MW around 8, a natural gas application with MW around 18, and finally a propane application with molecular weight around 44 are selected for this comparison. Useful indications on the applicability range of frequency dependent coefficients are given.

A Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Inlet Preswirl Ratio on Rotordynamic Characteristics of Labyrinth Seal

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiko Tsukuda ◽  
Toshio Hirano ◽  
Cori Watson ◽  
Neal R. Morgan ◽  
Brian K. Weaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
The Other ◽  
Circumferential Velocity ◽  
Stiffness Coefficients ◽  
Inlet Swirl

Full three-dimensional CFD simulations are carried out using ANSYS CFX to obtain the detailed flow field and to estimate the rotordynamic coefficients of a labyrinth seal for various inlet swirl ratios. Flow fields in the labyrinth seal with the eccentricity of the rotor are observed in detail and the detailed mechanisms that increase the destabilizing forces at high inlet swirl ratios are discussed based on the fluid governing equations associated with the flow fields. By evaluating the contributions from each term of the governing equation to cross coupled force, it is found that circumferential velocity and circumferential distribution of axial mass flow rate play key roles in generating cross coupled forces. In the case that circumferential velocity is high and decreases along the axial direction, all contributions from each term are positive cross coupled force. On the other hand, in the case that circumferential velocity is low and increases along the axial direction, one contribution is positive but the other is negative. Therefore, cross coupled force can be negative in the local chamber depending on the balance even if circumferential velocity is positive. CFD predictions of cross coupled stiffness coefficients and direct damping coefficients show better agreement with experimental results than a bulk flow model does by considering the force on the rotor in the inlet region. Cross coupled stiffness coefficients derived from the force on the rotor in the seal section agree well with those of the bulk flow model.

Progressive Clearance Labyrinth Seal for Turbo-Machinery Applications

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binayak Roy ◽  
Hrishikesh V. Deo ◽  
Xiaoqing Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Lower Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Transients ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Packing Ring ◽  
Lift Off ◽  
Large Rotor

Turbomachinery sealing is a challenging problem due to the varying clearances caused by thermal transients, vibrations, bearing lift-off etc. Leakage reduction has significant benefits in improving engine efficiency and reducing emissions. Conventional labyrinth seals have to be assembled with large clearances to avoid rubbing during large rotor transients. This results in large leakage and lower efficiency. In this paper, we propose a novel Progressive Clearance Labyrinth Seal that is capable of providing passive fluidic feedback forces that balance at a small tip-clearance. A modified packing ring is supported on flexures and employs progressively tighter teeth from the upstream to the downstream direction. When the tip-clearance reduces below the equilibrium clearance, fluidic feedback forces cause the packing ring to open. Conversely, when the tip-clearance increases above the equilibrium clearance, the fluidic feedback forces cause the packing ring to close. Due to this self-correcting behavior, the seal provides high differential pressure capability, low leakage and non-contact operation even in the presence of large rotor transients. Theoretical models for the feedback phenomenon have been developed and validated by experimental results.

Theoretical leakage equations towards liquid-phase flow in the straight-through labyrinth seal

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-44
Author(s):  
Lingsheng Han ◽  
Yongqing Wang ◽  
Kuo Liu ◽  
Ziyou Ban ◽  
Bo Qin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Numerical Approach ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Resistance Coefficient ◽  
Cryogenic Cooling ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Leakage Flow Rate ◽  
Empirical Coefficients

Abstract Labyrinth seals are widely applied in turbomachinery for gas and liquid sealing. A series of labyrinth seal leakage equations so far have been proposed for compressible gas, but few equations for incompressible liquid. Based on the flow conserving governing equations, this paper originally presents semi-empirical analytic equations of the leakage flow rate and tooth-clearance pressure for liquid-phase flow in the straight-through labyrinth seal. The equations indicate that the leakage and pressure are closely related to the inlet pressure, outlet pressure, seal geometrical parameters and four empirical coefficients, whilst no relation to the temperature and compressibility effects compared to the common gas equations. The empirical coefficients include the velocity compensation coefficient, friction coefficient, jet contraction coefficient and resistance coefficient. Particularly, the velocity compensation coefficient is determined through an optimization by the genetic algorithm, while others are referred from previous research. Ultimately, taking the sealing of deeply subcooled liquid nitrogen within the spindle of the cryogenic cooling machine tool as a case, the accuracy of proposed equations is evaluated under various pressure ratios and geometry conditions using the numerical approach, whose numerical model has been validated by the experimental data in the literature. The results show that errors between calculation and simulation are generally within the limit of ±5%, except for the pressure values at the first two teeth. This work provides a theoretical basis for further studies on the liquid leakage equations in other labyrinth seal types.

Experimental Investigation on the Rubbing Process of Labyrinth Seals Against Honeycomb Liners

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Munz ◽  
Lisa Hühn ◽  
Corina Schwitzke ◽  
Hans-Jörg Bauer ◽  
Tim Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Service Life ◽  
Wear Mechanism ◽  
Relative Velocity ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Honeycomb Structure ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Mechanical Loads ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Mass Flows

Abstract Sealing systems contribute significantly to the efficiency of turbomachinery. Small gap widths, which are important for low leakage mass flows in labyrinth seals, combined with thermal and mechanical expansion of the rotor can lead to contact with the stator. During these so-called rubbing processes, it is necessary to make an accurate prediction with respect to the performance and service life of the seal. For this purpose, the influence of relative velocity in the contact (up to 165ms−1) and incursion rate (up to 0.5 mms−1) on the resulting thermal and mechanical loads as well as wear mechanisms are studied for the rubbing process between an inclined labyrinth seal fin and a honeycomb segment. Furthermore, different axial configurations of the seal fin with respect to the honeycomb structure are considered. The system reacts very sensitively to a change of the seal fin position relative to the honeycomb structure. The incursion per revolution reflects a change of the wear mechanism from abrasive to plastic for a certain value. The results of this study contribute to the optimization of labyrinth seals and the development of new types of liner materials as well as geometries.

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