Influence of Honeycomb Rubbing on the Labyrinth Seal Performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Frączek ◽  
Włodzimierz Wróblewski ◽  
Krzysztof Bochon
Keyword(s):  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Geometrical Model ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Full Structure ◽  
Sst Turbulence Model

The aircraft engine operates in various conditions. In consequence, the design of seals must take account of the seal clearance changes and the risk of rubbing. A small radial clearance of the rotor tip seal leads to the honeycomb rubbing in take-off conditions, and the leakage flow may increase in cruise conditions. The aim of this study is to compare two honeycomb seal configurations of the low-pressure gas turbine rotor. In the first configuration, the clearance is small and rubbing occurs. In the second,—the fins of the seal are shorter to eliminate rubbing. It is assumed that the real clearance in both configurations is the same. A study of the honeycomb geometrical model is performed to reduce the computational effort. The problem is investigated numerically using the RANS equations and the two-equation k–ω SST turbulence model. The honeycomb full structure is taken into consideration to show details of the fluid flow. Main parameters of the clearance and leakage flows are compared and discussed for the rotor different axial positions. An assessment of the leakage flow through the seal variants could support the design process.

Numerical Investigation of Unsteady Blade Row Interactions With Leakage Flow in Steam Turbines

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keramat Fakhari ◽  
Thomas Hofbauer ◽  
Anton Weber
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Axial Distance ◽  
Mixing Process ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Numerical Studies ◽  
Real Gas Effects ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
The Impact

This paper focuses on the interaction of labyrinth seal leakage flows within two stages of a HP and an IP steam turbine. Numerical studies have been carried out with the DLR in-house code TRACE [1] to show the impact of the labyrinth seal leakage flow on the total loss generation in both steady and time accurate simulations. CFD results are verified by the in-house 2D through-flow method of Siemens Energy. The investigations are divided into five steps: 1. Real gas effects, 2. Steady simulations of the core flow alone and its interaction with the cavity flow to provide insights about loss production contributed by the mixing process of the re-entering leakage flow into the main flow, 3. Understanding and modeling of unsteady phenomena within such interacting flows, 4. Effects of reduction of the axial distance between the two stages on the mixing process in time accurate simulations. 5. Comparison of blade loads calculated by Siemens’ CAE tools and predicted by TRACE.

Performance evaluation of the inter-stage labyrinth seal for different tooth positions in an axial compressor

2017 ◽  
Vol 232 (6) ◽  
pp. 579-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaozhi Kong ◽  
Gaowen Liu ◽  
Yuxin Liu ◽  
Zhao Lei ◽  
Longxi Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Set Up

Labyrinth seals are normally used to control the leakage flow in the compressor stator well. The upstream and downstream rotor-stator cavities of the labyrinth seal can cause complex reverse leakage flows. Remarkable temperature increases and high swirl velocities are observed in this region. In addition, another characteristic of inter-stage labyrinth seal is that large expansions of rotor and stator may easily lead to severely rubbing between the teeth and shrouds, which can shorten the lifetime of the compressor obviously. Experiments were conducted at a rotating compressor inter-stage seal test facility. Different labyrinth rings were tested to compare the performances of inter-stage labyrinth seals with different tooth positions. Leakage flow rates, windage heating and swirl ratios in the outlet cavity were measured at different rotating speeds and pressure ratios. In order to get the working tip clearance accurately, the set up tip clearance was measured with plug gauges, while the radial displacements of rotating disc and stationary casing were measured separately with two high precision laser distance sensors. Numerical simulations were carried out to present the important flow physics responsible for the effects of different tooth positions. In this article, performances of different cases for single, double and triple teeth were investigated and the experimental data provide a new way for the design of inter-stage seals. This method can reduce the leakage flow and avoid severely rubbing at the same time by changing axial positions of teeth in the stator well. When teeth are placed downstream of the model and the tooth pitch is larger, the inter-stage seal would have better sealing performance. For triple teeth cases, N = 3-Case1 has the lowest discharge coefficients, 15% less than that of N = 3-Baseline.

Estimation of Leakage Mass Flow Rate through Labyrinth Seal Using CFD Techniques

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Neeharika ◽  
Prabhat Kumar Hensh
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Mass Flow Rate ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Empirical Correlation ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Simulation Results

Seal design is an essential part for turbo machinery. Seal consisting of fins is placed in a gap between stationary and rotating component to minimize the leakage flow. Seal leakage flow has been considered as an inevitable loss factor that highly affects the efficiency of any machine. During operation of the equipment, thermal expansion/contraction of components take place, which causes variation of the gap between stationary and rotating component. Importance of the study is to understand the flow behavior due to variation of the gap. The variation of gap leads to change of radial clearance between fin to metal component and subsequent change of flow pattern. The main focus of the paper is to estimate the leakage flow through a labyrinth seal placed between rotor and casing of a typical steam turbine. Numerical techniques using 3D CFD tool are used for this purpose. Three different seal configurations are proposed in the study. The variables of the three seal configurations are radial clearance, number of fins in the flow passage and pressure drop across the seal passages. As an alternative methodology, an empirical correlation is formulated based on numerical simulation results for one set of radial clearance to estimate mass flow rate through the seal. In order to validate the formulated correlation, mass flow rate is determined for another set of radial clearance and compared with numerical simulation results. It is observed that flow rate estimated from 3D CFD study is around 20% lower compared to empirical correlation.

scholarly journals Aircraft Turbine Engine Labyrinth Seal CFD Sensitivity Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 6830
Author(s):  
Michal Čížek ◽  
Zdeněk Pátek ◽  
Tomáš Vampola
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Materials Engineering

This article presents the labyrinth seal radial clearance influence. A generic labyrinth seal of a turbine aircraft engine was modeled. The target is to compare and analyze the influence of the radial clearance and location of teeth. The results can be useful for designing the location of teeth and their appropriate setting, especially for materials engineering and engineering technology in general.

Conditioning of Leakage Flows in Gas Turbine Rotor-Stator Cavities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Darby ◽  
A. W. Mesny ◽  
G. De Cosmo ◽  
M. Carnevale ◽  
G. D. Lock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Flow Visualisation ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Toroidal Vortex ◽  
Performance Measurements ◽  
Operating Cycle ◽  
Leakage Flows

Abstract Ingress is the penetration of hot mainstream fluid into the cavity formed between the turbine disc (rotor) and its adjacent casing (stator). Gas turbine engine designers use rim seals fitted at the periphery of the discs and a superposed sealant flow — typically fed through the bore of the stator — is used to reduce, or in the limit prevent, ingress. Parasitic leakage enters the cavity through pathways created between mating interfaces of engine components. Owing to the aggressive thermal and centrifugal loading experienced during the turbine operating cycle, the degree of leakage and its effect on ingress are difficult to predict. This paper considers the potential for leakage flows to be conditioned in order to minimise their parasitic effect on disc cooling, and ultimately engine, performance. Measurements of static and total pressure, swirl and species concentration were used to assess the performance of a simple axial clearance rim-seal over a range of non-dimensional leakage flow-rates. A computational model was used to provide flow visualisation to support the interpretation of flow structures derived from the experiments. Data is presented to investigate the effects of swirling the leakage flow in accordance with, and counter to, the disc rotation. The injected momentum from the leakage created a toroidal vortex in the outer part of the cavity. Co-swirl was found to improve the sealing effectiveness by up to 15% compared to the axially-introduced baseline and counter-swirled configurations. Varying the momentum of the leakage flow was considered by passing consistent mass-flows through a range of leakage outlet areas. Increasing the momentum was seen to increase the influence of the toroidal vortex on the flow structure in the cavity, which in turn influenced the sealing effectiveness.

scholarly journals Calculation of Labyrinth Seals in the Secondary Air System of Aircraft Engine

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 424-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Tisarev ◽  
Sergei Falaleev ◽  
Alexandr Vinogradov
Keyword(s):  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Cylindrical Shape ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
High Pressure Compressor ◽  
Mutual System ◽  
Air System ◽  
Secondary Air ◽  
Engine Systems

The labyrinth seals perform the important functions in the aircraft engine systems operation, which aim to reduce the air leakages and the mutual system interference reduction. The calculation of the labyrinth seal characteristics is performed simply by using the analytical relationships or the modern tools of numerical analysis. However, the seal operation specificity within the system of operating engine secondary streams imposes some additional difficulties manifested in the rotor and stator elements deformation forming a gap. In this paper, we analyzed the formation cases of axis symmetric and asymmetric forms of labyrinth seal gaps. For the case of symmetrical cone gaps formation the correction factors were obtained by using the Fluent analysis to assess the seal characteristics with the conical form of the gaps, compared with the seal with cylindrical shape concentric gaps at the minimum radial clearance. The algorithm of axis symmetric seal deformation at the calculation of the engine secondary air system is described. The asymmetric components of deformations for the rotor and the high-pressure compressor housing are analyzed separately. The high rigidity of the elements contributed to the emergence of low level asymmetric deformation, allowing exclude them at the calculation of the seal characteristics.

Labyrinth-Seal Leakage Analysis

1959 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Zabriskie ◽  
B. Sternlicht
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Gas Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Seal Design ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
The Subject

The leakage flow through labyrinth seals in turbomachinery has been the subject of increasing concern as refinements and advances in design are made. Accurate knowledge of seal leakage is necessary in at least three areas of design: (a) Estimating the effect of seal leakage on performance; (b) regulating the leakage flow required for cooling purposes; (c) determining the thrust-bearing load which is a function of the pressure drop through the seal. This paper is concerned primarily with the fluid-flow aspect of gas leakage through labyrinth seals of the types commonly used in gas and steam turbines. This includes staggered and unstaggered seals of the axial type, which are most commonly used in turbomachinery. The attention to fluid-flow considerations does not imply that material compatibility and operating problems of expansion, deformation, and rub-in are unimportant. In fact, these mechanical considerations may overrule the fluid-flow considerations. For the foregoing reasons, it is desirable to be able to predict seal leakage flows, and thus this aspect of seal design has been singled out for consideration here.

Conditioning of Leakage Flows in Gas Turbine Rotor-Stator Cavities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Darby ◽  
Alex Mesny ◽  
Giove De Cosmo ◽  
Mauro Carnevale ◽  
Gary Lock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Flow Visualisation ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Performance Measurements ◽  
Operating Cycle ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Leakage Flows

Abstract Ingress is the penetration of hot mainstream fluid into the cavity formed between the turbine disc (rotor) and its adjacent casing (stator). Gas turbine engine designers use rim seals fitted at the periphery of the discs and a superposed sealant flow - typically fed through the bore of the stator - is used to reduce, or in the limit prevent, ingress. Parasitic leakage enters the cavity through pathways created between mating interfaces of engine components. Owing to the aggressive thermal and centrifugal loading experienced during the turbine operating cycle, the degree of leakage and its effect on ingress are difficult to predict. This paper considers the potential for leakage flows to be conditioned in order to minimise their parasitic effect on disc cooling, and ultimately engine, performance. Measurements of static and total pressure, swirl and species concentration were used to assess the performance of a simple axial clearance rim-seal over a range of non-dimensional leakage flow-rates. A computational model was used to provide flow visualisation to support the interpretation of flow structures derived from the experiments. Data is presented to investigate the effects of swirling the leakage flow in accordance with, and counter to, the disc rotation. The injected momentum from the leakage created a toroidal vortex in the outer part of the cavity. Co-swirl was found to improve the sealing effectiveness by up to 15...abridged

Parametric Studies on Gas Turbine Labyrinth Seal for the Secondary Air Flow Optimization at Static and Rotating Conditions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karthick Raja Kaliraj ◽  
Giridhara Babu Yepuri ◽  
Jayakumar Janardanan Sarasamma ◽  
Kishor Kumar ◽  
Felix Jesuraj
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Stationary Condition ◽  
Cfd Analysis ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Sst Turbulence Model ◽  
Parametric Studies ◽  
Secondary Air

Abstract Various studies have been carried out related to the labyrinth seals and reported in the open literature using the different seal arrangements at the stator-rotor seal cavity region. In the present study, numerical analysis has been carried out for the static and rotational effects of labyrinth seals at various flow and geometrical, parametric conditions for the optimized leak flow using straight and steeped seal configurations. And, an experimental data has been generated for the straight through seals, and the numerical data of the same case is validated with the experimental data. The k-omega SST turbulence model is considered with 5% turbulence intensity for the CFD analysis. At a particular seal clearance, as the number of teeth increases the leakage flow is found to be decreased. The leak flow is found to be lower with the stepped labyrinth seals in comparison to the straight through seals. The leak flow amount is found to be lower at a rotational condition in comparison to the stationary condition. From the overall results, it is observed that the stepped seal with a lower clearance at a compressor bleed air temperature and rotational conditions have shown better performance with the lower leak air mass flow.

scholarly journals Surrogate-Based Optimization of Horizontal Axis Hydrokinetic Turbine Rotor Blades

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 4045
Author(s):  
David Menéndez Arán ◽  
Ángel Menéndez
Keyword(s):  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Linear Functions ◽  
Cavitation Inception ◽  
Hydrokinetic Turbine ◽  
Blade Geometry

A design method was developed for automated, systematic design of hydrokinetic turbine rotor blades. The method coupled a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver to estimate the power output of a given turbine with a surrogate-based constrained optimization method. This allowed the characterization of the design space while minimizing the number of analyzed blade geometries and the associated computational effort. An initial blade geometry developed using a lifting line optimization method was selected as the base geometry to generate a turbine blade family by multiplying a series of geometric parameters with corresponding linear functions. A performance database was constructed for the turbine blade family with the CFD solver and used to build the surrogate function. The linear functions were then incorporated into a constrained nonlinear optimization algorithm to solve for the blade geometry with the highest efficiency. A constraint on the minimum pressure on the blade could be set to prevent cavitation inception.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document