Effect of Rotation on Leakage and Windage Heating in Labyrinth Seals With Honeycomb Lands

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kali Charan Nayak
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Rotational Speed ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Discharge Coefficient ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
High Speeds ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Critical Rotational Speed ◽  
Honeycomb Cell

Abstract One of the basic assumptions of the traditional labyrinth seal leakage calculation is that rotation has minimal or no effect on seal leakage. With the advancement of gas turbine technology, to achieve high performance, seals are run at tight clearances and very high rotational speeds. Due to tight clearances and high speeds, the temperature rise across the seal can be very significant in reducing the seal flow due to the Raleigh line effect. The influence of rotation on the flow dynamics inside the seal region has not previously been studied in detail. In this study the effect of rotation is studied for smooth and honeycomb cells at various seal clearances and rotational speeds. The main objective of this study is to understand the influence of rotation on seal leakage. However, the effect of rotation on swirl and windage heating is also investigated. For this study, the author leveraged the validated 3D computational fluid dynamics methodology for a stationary and rotating labyrinth from previous studies. However, before performing studies on rotation, the numerical modeling approach is benchmarked against experimental data on rotation with smooth stator lands by Waschka et al. The numerical predictions show good agreement with the experimental data. As the rotational speed increases, seal discharge coefficient remains constant until a critical rotational speed is reached. This critical speed is shown to depend non-dimensionally on the ratio of Taylor number to Reynolds number (Ta/Re). As Ta/Re increases above 0.1, seal discharge coefficient can reduce by up to 25% depending on the seal clearance, fin tip speed, and honeycomb cell size.

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.

Numerical Comparison of Leakage Flow and Rotordynamic Characteristics for Two Types of Labyrinth Seals With Baffles

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanqiao Zhang ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Zhigang Li ◽  
Xin Yan
Keyword(s):  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Flow Resistance ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Numerical Comparison ◽  
Vibration Frequencies ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Rotordynamic Coefficients ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Swirl Intensity

Abstract Cavity separation baffles can decrease the circumferential swirl intensity of labyrinth seals and increase the seals' rotordynamic characteristics. Compared with conventional baffles, the bristle packs of brush seal baffles can contact the rotor directly, thereby further reducing the swirl intensity of the seal cavity. This paper, using the numerical model combining a multifrequency elliptical whirling orbit model, a porous medium model, and transient Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solutions, compares the leakage flow and rotordynamic characteristics of a labyrinth seal with brush-seal baffles (LSBSB) and a labyrinth seal with conventional baffles (LSCB). Ideal air flows into the seal at an inlet preswirl velocity of 0 m/s (or 60 m/s or 100 m/s), total pressure of 690 kPa, and temperature of 14 °C. The outlet static pressure is 100 kPa and the rotational speed is 7500 r/min (surface speed of 66.8 m/s) or 15,000 r/min (surface speed of 133.5 m/s). Numerical results show that the LSBSB possesses the slightly less leakage flow rate than the LSCB due to the flow resistance of the bristle pack to the fluid. Compared with the LSCB, the LSBSB shows a higher positive effective stiffness (Keff) at all considered vibration frequencies and a higher effective damping (Ceff) for most vibration frequencies. What is more, the crossover frequency (fc0) of the LSBSB is significantly lower than that of the LSCB, which means that the LSBSB has a wider frequency range offering positive effective damping. The increasing inlet preswirl velocity and rotational speed only slightly affect the Keff for both seals. The Ceff of two seals decreases as the inlet preswirl velocity rises, especially for the LSCB. The Ceff of the LSCB slightly decreases because of the increasing rotational speed. In contrast, the Ceff of the LSBSB is not sensitive to the changes in rotational speed. In a word, the LSBSB possesses superior rotordynamic performance to the LSCB. Note that this work also investigates the leakage flow and rotordynamic characteristics a labyrinth seal with inclined baffles (LSIB) under the condition of u0 = 60 m/s and n = 15,000 r/min. The inclined baffles of the LSIB are same as the backing plates of LSBSB baffles. The LSIB has rotordynamic coefficients almost equal to the LSCB. Hence, the reason why the LSBSB possesses better rotordynamic performance than that of the LSCB is the flow resistance of bristle packs of brush seal baffles, not the inclination direction variation of baffles.

Experimental and Numerical Investigations on Basic Characteristics of High-Performance Abradable-Aero Hybrid Seal

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Kuwamura ◽  
Kazuyuki Matsumoto ◽  
Hidekazu Uehara ◽  
Hiroharu Ooyama ◽  
Yoshinori Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Flow ◽  
Vortex Structure ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Discharge Coefficient ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Axial Position ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Basic Characteristics

As key technologies to improve the performance of steam turbines, various types of high performance seal, such as active clearance control (ACC) seals and leaf seals [1], have been developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD (MHI). In recent years, a new seal concept using an aerodynamic approach called “aero seal” has also been developed, which remarkably reduces the leakage flow while maintaining fin clearances. Furthermore, more robust and higher performance sealing technology called “abradable-aero hybrid seal” which combines the aero seal concept with the abradable seal technology was proposed. The main concept of the aero seal is to control and utilize the vortex structure in the cavities of the labyrinth seal. In the cavities of the aero seal, the locally-controlled flow on the upstream side of the fin tip causes a strong contraction of the leakage flow and reduces the discharge coefficient significantly. This concept allows for a remarkably reduced leakage flow while maintaining fin clearances. Moreover, in order to achieve more robust and higher performance by minimizing the fin clearances, the abradable seal technology was applied to the aero seal concept. However, when the abradable seal is applied, the grooves may be formed on the wall surface of the abradable material due to rubbing of the fin into the abradable material. This situation leads to concern that the groove breaks the effective vortex structure of aero seal and causes negative effects on the seal performance. In this paper, the improved aero seal configuration consisting of slant fins was proposed and it was verified that the reduction in the discharge coefficient of improved aero seal is up to 40% compared to the conventional labyrinth seal. Furthermore, more robust and higher performance sealing technology called “abradable-aero hybrid seal” was proposed and basic characteristics such as the effects of the presence of grooves, the axial position of the fin and seal clearance on the leakage mass flow and the vortex structure were parametrically investigated both experimentally and numerically. In the experiments, not only leakage mass flow measurements but also PIV measurements were carried out in order to visualize the flow patterns in the cavity of the abradable-aero hybrid seal. From the results, it was confirmed that the effective vortex structures were formed even with grooves at various fin positions and the leakage flow can be stably reduced over 40% in a wide range of axial position and reduced by 50% at the optimum position.

Effects of Pressure Ratio and Rotational Speed on Leakage Flow and Cavity Pressure in the Staggered Labyrinth Seal

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhigang Li ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Xin Yan ◽  
Zhenping Feng
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Cavity Pressure ◽  
Cavity Structure

Effects of pressure ratio and rotational speed on the leakage flow and cavity pressure characteristics of the rotating staggered labyrinth seal were investigated by means of experimental measurements and numerical simulations. The rotating seal test rig with turbine flowmeter and pressure measuring instruments was utilized to investigate the leakage flow of the staggered labyrinth seal at eight pressure ratios and five rotational speeds. The repeatability of the experimental data was demonstrated by three times measurements at different pressure ratios and fixed rotational speed. The three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and standard k-ε turbulent model were also applied to study the leakage flow characteristics of the staggered labyrinth seal at the experimental conditions. The validation of the numerical approach was verified through comparison of the experimental data. The detailed flow field in the staggered labyrinth seal was illustrated according to the numerical simulations. The experimental and numerical results show that the leakage flow coefficient increases with increasing pressure ratio at the fixed rotational speed and is more sensitive to the smaller pressure ratio. The influence of rotational speed on the leakage flow coefficient is not obvious in the present rotational speed limitations. The cavity pressure coefficient in the staggered labyrinth seal decreases and is significantly influenced by the cavity structure along the flow direction.

Advanced Labyrinth Seals for Steam Turbine Generators

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad D. Vakili ◽  
Abraham J. Meganathan ◽  
Sricharan Ayyalasomayajula ◽  
Stephen Hesler ◽  
Lewis Shuster
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Turbine Generators ◽  
High Performance Composite ◽  
Steam Leakage

A new class of knives (C-Shaped) for reduced labyrinth seal discharge has been designed and assessed through two dimensional numerical modeling of the seal’s internal flow passages. Modeling procedures used for the analysis have been previously validated by comparison with static labyrinth seal experiments. The objectives of the new seal are to: 1) reduce flow leakage through the seal and 2) introduce structural flexibility in the knives so that design clearances could be maintained even after rub events during startup. The baseline chosen for comparative evaluation is an N2 packing used in GE steam turbines. The new seals have compliant C-shaped knives instead of the straight knives, found in an N2 packing. The best performing configuration has one tall ‘C’ shaped long knife and three ‘C’ shaped short knives in each stage. It was found that the best configuration at clearances similar to the baseline seal reduces flow leakage by 42%. Two dimensional numerical structural analyses showed that the new seal knife is more flexible than a straight knife. This is also intuitive by virtue of its geometric profile. A non-dimensional geometric parameter correlates with the degree of flexibility in the knife. These results indicate a potential for design of labyrinth seals that maintain lower design clearances throughout their life time by carefully selecting the knives’ geometric parameters and incorporating high performance composite materials. Then, the new design would result in significantly lower steam leakage.

Numerical Analysis of Honeycomb Labyrinth Seals: Cell Geometry and Fin Tip Thickness Impact on the Discharge Coefficient

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Desando ◽  
Andrea Rapisarda ◽  
Elena Campagnoli ◽  
Roberto Taurino
Keyword(s):  
Discharge Coefficient ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Cell Diameter ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Cell Pattern ◽  
Divergent Flow ◽  
Impact Reduction

The design of the newest aircraft propulsion systems is focused on environmental impact reduction. Extensive research is being carried out with the purpose of improving engine efficiency, enhancing crucial features, in order to decrease both fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. A lot of improvements to fulfill these objectives must be made, focusing on the optimization of the main engine parts through the utilization of new technologies. The leakage flow reduction in the turbo machinery rotor-stator interaction is one of the main topics to which numerous efforts are being devoted. Labyrinth seals, widely employed in the aerospace field thanks to their simple assembly process and maintenance, can be the means to achieve these objectives. This paper mainly focuses on the optimization of the labyrinth seal stator part, characterized, in modern Low Pressure Turbines (LPT), by a honeycomb cell pattern. The first phase of this study deals with the implementation and validation of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical model, by using the experimental data available in the literature. Discharge coefficients obtained by numerical simulations, performed at different clearances and pressure ratios on both smooth and honeycomb non-rotating labyrinth seals, are presented and compared to the literature data. Then, for both convergent and divergent flow conditions, the effects on the discharge coefficient due to variations in several cell pattern parameters (i.e. cell diameter, depth and wall thickness) and fin tip thickness are shown. For these analyses the values of clearance and pressure ratio are set at a constant value.

scholarly journals One-Dimensional Computation Method of Supercritical CO2 Labyrinth Seal

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 5771
Author(s):  
Yuming Zhu ◽  
Yuyan Jiang ◽  
Shiqiang Liang ◽  
Chaohong Guo ◽  
Yongxian Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supercritical Co2 ◽  
Discharge Coefficient ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Computation Method ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Experimental Correlation

An actual one-dimensional(1-D) computation method for a labyrinth seal is proposed. Relevant computation hypotheses for the 1-D method are analyzed and the specificity of internal flow in an SCO2 (supercritical CO2) labyrinth seal is explored in advance. Then, the experimental correlation discharge coefficient and the residual kinetic energy coefficient used in SCO2 labyrinth seals are proposed. In addition, the speed of sound in two-phase flow is corrected in the 1-D method. All recent experimental results of the SCO2 labyrinth seal are sorted out and the latest experimental results of a stepped-staggered labyrinth seal are proposed to verify the accuracy and applicability of the 1-D method. Finally, the sealing efficiency of the SCO2 labyrinth seals are analyzed using the 1-D method.

A New Method to Realize Unsteady Calculation of Flow in Labyrinth Seals

2011 ◽  
Vol 199-200 ◽  
pp. 68-71
Author(s):  
Zhen Ping Liu ◽  
Shu Lian Liu ◽  
Shui Ying Zheng
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Nonlinear Behaviour ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Mesh Density ◽  
Excitation Force

As non-contact seal, labyrinth seal is widely used in rotor system of high speed. However, with the development of turbo-machinery toward high performance and huge capacity, gas excitation vibration within the labyrinth seal becomes the main reason threatening safe operating of machinery sets. Recently three dimensional computational fluid dynamic was applied to analyse inside flow in labyrinth seal. These researches, while greatly improve rotordynamic prediction of labyrinth seals, are mostly focused in steady calculation. In fact, rotor inside the seal is whirling in a nonlinear behaviour, which makes the flow unstable. In an effort to analyse the non-linear behaviour of flow in labyrinth seal, this paper utilizes an improved dynamic mesh technology to realize unsteady calculation. The Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations is solved by a commercial CFD program, FLUENT. Steady calculations are firstly done to determine mesh density and turbulence model, then an unsteady analysis is used to study gas excitation force. The influence of initial condition to the unsteady analysis is discussed. This method allows modeling of rotor orbit around the eccentric position and gives prediction of nolinear gas excitation force.

Assessment of Analytical Predictions for Radial Growth of Rotating Labyrinth Seals

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sivakumar Subramanian ◽  
A. S. Sekhar ◽  
B. V. S. S. S. Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Length Ratio ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
High Rotational Speed ◽  
Dimensional Finite Element ◽  
Three Dimensional Finite Element

Abstract Radial growth predictions of rotating labyrinth seals are conventionally obtained from one-dimensional analytical models. However, these predictions quantitatively differ within themselves by about 5-500 %. Simulations using three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) are carried out in this paper for a typical labyrinth seal, subjected to high rotational speed and temperature, for a range of radius-to-length ratio of the rotor. Taking the predicted values by FEM as reference, four analytical models are assessed and their errors are quantified. These errors are found to be independent of rotational speed and temperature but significantly vary with the radius-to-length ratio of the rotor. Based on this finding, simple analytical models, together with correction factor charts, are suggested.

Numerical Investigations for Leakage and Windage Heating in Straight-Through Labyrinth Seals

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kali Charan Nayak ◽  
Pradip Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Turbulence Model ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Honeycomb Cell

The ability to quantify leakage flow and windage heating for labyrinth seals with honeycomb lands is critical in understanding gas turbine engine system performance and predicting its component life. Variety of labyrinth seal configurations (number of teeth, stepped or straight, honeycomb cell size) are in use in gas turbines, and for each configuration, there are many geometric factors that can impact a seal's leakage and windage characteristics. This paper describes the development of a numerical methodology aimed at studying the effect of honeycomb lands on leakage and windage heating. Specifically, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed utilizing commercial finite volume-based software incorporating the renormalization group (RNG) k-ε turbulence model with modified Schmidt number. The modified turbulence model is benchmarked and fine-tuned based on several experiments. Using this model, a broad parametric study is conducted by varying honeycomb cell size, pressure ratio (PR), and radial clearance for a four-tooth straight-through labyrinth seal. The results show good agreement with available experimental data. They further indicate that larger honeycomb cells predict higher seal leakage and windage heating at tighter clearances compared to smaller honeycomb cells and smooth lands. However, at open seal clearances larger honeycomb cells have lower leakage compared to smaller honeycomb cells.

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