CFD Leakage Predictions of Labyrinth Seals Having Straight and Inclined Notched Teeth With Staggered Honeycomb Land

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasham H. Chougule ◽  
A. V. Mirzamoghadam
Keyword(s):  
Flow Resistance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Maximum Improvement ◽  
Total Leakage ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Honeycomb Cell

Labyrinth seal designs for reduced leakage have been analyzed by three-dimensional CFD simulations. The objective is to learn the effect of seal geometry modifications on total leakage through the seal and arrive at an advanced seal setting for improved seal effectiveness through reduction in leakage. Numerical modeling of the flow field were conducted at various operating conditions. The baseline seal model for this study is a conventional straight-through rotating four-tooth labyrinth seal and static honeycomb land having symmetrical hexagonal cells. The tooth design configurations include stepped single & double notched straight and inclined teeth. Another objective is to learn the effect of staggered honeycomb land with respect to rotor/teeth rotation. The effect of teeth inclination & teeth rotation compared to stationary is also discussed. CFD results indicate improved seal effectiveness with staggered honeycomb cell land. The maximum improvement of ∼9% was observed with stepped and notched inclined teeth configuration when combined with staggered honeycomb land. The leakage reduction leading to improvement in seal effectiveness as compared to baseline configuration is largely due to higher flow resistance, higher turbulence and higher blockages by introducing vortex in leakage flow through step and cavities.

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.

Low Leakage Designs for Rotor Teeth and Honeycomb Lands in Labyrinth Seals

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasham H. Chougule ◽  
Douglas Ramerth ◽  
Dhinagaran Ramachandran
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Wall Friction ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Total Leakage ◽  
Flow Turbulence

Design improvements on labyrinth seal teeth and a honeycomb land are examined by three-dimensional CFD numerical modeling of the flow field. The only objective is reduction of the total leakage through the new seal. CFD assumptions and analysis was validated by comparison with leakage data from labyrinth seal experiments conducted by Stocker [1]. The baseline chosen for comparison of sealing effectiveness is a conventional low clearance straight-through labyrinth seal with four teeth and a honeycomb land of symmetrical hexagonal cells. The proposed new seal has a staggered honeycomb land and straight teeth with an inclined notch. CFD predicts ∼17% reduction in seal leakage at a radial clearance of 0.005 inch (0.122mm) due to higher wall friction and flow turbulence.

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.

Numerical Modelling of Three Dimensional Honeycomb Labyrinth Seals Employing a Simplified Approach

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dermot Collins ◽  
Joao Amaral Teixeira ◽  
Pete Crudgington ◽  
Paul C. Ivey
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Simplified Approach ◽  
Pressure Profiles ◽  
Single Tooth ◽  
Average Variation ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Overall Performance

This paper numerically analyses the flow through abradable honeycomb labyrinth seals using CFD. Three-dimensional CFD simulations using a single tooth have been compared to representative two-dimensional simulations. Two sizes of honeycomb (1.60mm and 3.20mm) have been analysed at pressure ratios from 1.20 up to 1.60. The seal geometry was kept constant throughout with a running clearance of 1.00mm. The honeycomb has been oriented in two planes with respect to the labyrinth teeth. The two-dimensional planes show equivalence both in terms of overall performance and inter-cavity pressure profiles. Comparisons of Cd typically agree within 2.5%, having an average variation of 1.3%. Total pressure profiles at the middle of the upstream and downstream cavity have been compared. These reveal typical average RMS variations of less than 3% between 3-D and 2-D profiles. It has also been shown that the honeycomb surface causes velocity effects in 3-D that propagate into the seal cavity. The technique used has achieved significant reductions in modelling times.

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

2000 ◽  
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.

CFD Simulation of Single Step and Double Notched Tooth for Labyrinth Seals

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasham H. Chougule ◽  
Alexander Mirzamoghadam ◽  
Douglas Ramerth
Keyword(s):  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Comparison Study ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Baseline Model ◽  
Total Leakage ◽  
Sharp Knife ◽  
Cfd Analyses

A variant “Stepped Double Notched Tooth” for conventional sharp teeth of a labyrinth seal has been proposed and investigated by three-dimensional CFD numerical modeling of the flow field. The purpose is to reduce total leakage through the seal. The tooth is numerically tested with both solid and honeycomb lands. CFD assumptions and analysis were validated by comparison with leakage data from stationary labyrinth seal experiments conducted by Stocker [1]. The baseline model considered for comparison study consists of the conventional straight-through four sharp knife shaped teeth in combination with solid and honeycomb land. The variant tooth is also straight having a sharp tip but has a stepped inclined notch opposing the flow at both sides of the tip. CFD analyses revealed that this double notched tooth reduces seal leakage by ∼10.7% when used with solid land and ∼12.5% when used with honeycomb land compared to a conventional baseline tooth.

Effect of Rub-Grooves on Leakage and Windage Heating in Straight-Through Labyrinth Seals

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kali Charan Nayak ◽  
Pradip Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Geometric Factors ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Honeycomb Cell

Prediction of 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. There are several labyrinth seal configurations in use in gas turbines, and for each configuration, there are many geometric factors that can impact a seal's leakage and windage characteristics. One of the factors which has not been thoroughly investigated in previously published work is the presence of rub-grooves in the honeycomb land and its impact on seal performance. This paper describes the development of a numerical methodology aimed at studying this effect. Specifically, a three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed utilizing commercial finite volume-based software incorporating the renormalization group (RNG) k-ε turbulence model. Using this model, a broad parametric study is conducted by varying honeycomb cell size and radial clearance for a four-tooth straight-through labyrinth seal with and without rub-grooves. The results show good agreement with available experimental data. They further indicate that presence of rub-grooves increases seal leakage and decreases windage heating. The absolute levels depend on the clearance and honeycomb cell size.

scholarly journals The Design and Evaluation of a 14 Stage, 16:1 Pressure Ratio Compressor for an Industrial Gas Turbine

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad R. Saadatmand
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Design Intent ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbine

The aerodynamic design process leading to the production configuration of a 14 stage, 16:1 pressure ratio compressor for the Taurus 70 gas turbine is described. The performance of the compressor is measured and compared to the design intent. Overall compressor performance at the design condition was found to be close to design intent. Flow profiles measured by vane mounted instrumentation are presented and discussed. The flow through the first rotor blade has been modeled at different operating conditions using the Dawes (1987) three-dimensional viscous code and the results are compared to the experimental data. The CFD prediction agreed well with the experimental data across the blade span, including the pile up of the boundary layer on the corner of the hub and the suction surface. The rotor blade was also analyzed with different grid refinement and the results were compared with the test data.

Development of a 2-D CFD Approach for Computing 3-D Honeycomb Labyrinth Leakage

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Chun Choi ◽  
David L. Rhode
Keyword(s):  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Algebraic Model ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Resource Requirement ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Computer Resource ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
D Model ◽  
Model Approach

A new approach for employing a 2-D CFD model to approximately compute a 3-D flow field such as that in a honeycomb labyrinth seal was developed. The advantage of this approach is that it greatly reduces the computer resource requirement needed to obtain a solution of the leakage for the 3-D flow through a honeycomb labyrinth. After the leakage through the stepped labyrinth seal was measured, it was used in numerically determining the value of one dimension (DTF1) of the simplified geometry 2-D approximate CFD model. Then the capability of the 2-D model approach was demonstrated by using it to compute the 3-D flow that had been measured at different operating conditions, and in some cases different distance to contact values. It was found that very close agreement with measurements was obtained in all cases, except for that of intermediate clearance and distance to contact for two sets of upstream and downstream pressure. The 2-D approach developed here offers interesting benefits relative to conventional algebraic-equation models, particularly for evaluating labyrinth geometries/operating conditions that are different from that of the data employed in developing the algebraic model.

Effects of Inlet Preswirl and Cell Diameter and Depth on Honeycomb Seal Characteristics

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Yan ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Zhenping Feng
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Increase ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Labyrinth Seal ◽  
Leakage Rate ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Cell Diameter ◽  
Total Temperature ◽  
Honeycomb Seals ◽  
Honeycomb Cell

Three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes solutions are employed to investigate the discharge and total temperature increase characteristics of the stepped labyrinth seal with honeycomb land. First, the relations between the windage heating number and the circumferential Mach number at different Reynolds numbers for different honeycomb seals are calculated and compared with the experimental data. The obtained numerical results show that the present three-dimensional periodic model can properly predict the total temperature increase in honeycomb seals. Then, a range of pressure ratios, three inlet preswirl ratios, four sizes of honeycomb cell diameter, and nine sizes of cell depth are selected to investigate the influence of inlet preswirl ratios and honeycomb geometry sizes on the discharge and total temperature increase characteristics of the stepped labyrinth seal. It shows that the leakage rate increases with the increase in cell diameter, and the cell depth has a strong influence on the discharge behavior. However, the influence of the inlet preswirl on the leakage rate is found to be little in the present study. For the total temperature increase characteristic, the inlet preswirl ratio and pressure ratio have more pronounced influence than those of cell depth and diameter. Furthermore, the relations between the leakage rate and cell depth and diameter, as well as the relations between the windage heating power and cell depth and diameter, are not monotonic functions if the pressure ratio is kept constant.

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