Numerical Simulation of Flows through Labyrinth Seals

2016 ◽  
Vol 821 ◽  
pp. 16-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Fürst

A numerical code for calculation of leakage flowand rotordynamic coefficients of labyrinth seals has beendeveloped. The code is based on the solution of Reynolds-averagedNavier-Stokes equations combined with a two-equation turbulencemodel. The numerical solution is achieved with finite volume methodand the rotordynamic coefficients are evaluated from severalsimulations with different rotor precessions. The solution iscompared to single control volume based bulk flow method[Williams, 1998] and to the experimental results for look-throughlabyrinth seal [Schettel, 2004].

Author(s):  
Joseph M. Pelletti ◽  
Dara W. Childs

Abstract Experimental results for the rotordynamic coefficients of short (L/D = 1/6) teeth-on-stator and teeth-on-rotor labyrinth seals are presented. The effects that pressure ratio (fluid density), rotor speed, fluid pre-swirl and seal clearance have on these coefficients are studied. Tests were run out to speeds of 16000 rpm with a supply pressure of 17.3 bar and seal clearances ranging from 0.229–0.419 mm. The experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions of a two control volume compressible flow model. The experimental results show that decreases in pressure ratio and increases in rotor speed are stabilizing while increases in fluid pre-swirl and seal clearance are destabilizing for both seal configurations. The theoretical model correctly predicts the effects of pressure ratio, rotor speed and fluid pre-swirl on the cross-coupled stiffness. It also predicts reasonable values for direct damping for all test conditions. However, the theory incorrectly predicts the effect of seal clearance on these coefficients. Consequently the theoretical predictions are much better for the large clearance seals.


Author(s):  
Giuseppe Vannini ◽  
Manish R. Thorat ◽  
Dara W. Childs ◽  
Mirko Libraschi

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.


Author(s):  
Marc Bolinches-Gisbert ◽  
David Cadrecha Robles ◽  
Roque Corral ◽  
Fernando Gisbert

Abstract A comprehensive comparison between Implicit Large Eddy Simulations (ILES) and experimental results of a modern highlift low-pressure turbine airfoil has been carried out for an array of Reynolds numbers (Re). Experimental data were obtained in a low-speed linear cascade at the Polithecnic University of Madrid using hot-wire anemometry and LDV. The numerical code is fourth order accurate, both in time and space. The spatial discretization of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations is based on a high-order Flux Reconstruction approach while a fourth order Runge-Kutta method is used to march in time the simulations. The losses, pressure coefficient distributions, and boundary layer and wake velocity profiles have been compared for an array of realistic Reynolds numbers. Moreover, boundary layer and wake velocity fluctuations are compared for the first time with experimental results. It is concluded that the accuracy of the numerical results is comparable to that of the experiments, especially for integral quantities such as the losses or exit angle. Turbulent fluctuations in the suction side boundary layer and the wakes are well predicted also. The elapsed time of the is about 140 hours on 40 Graphics Processor Units. The numerical tool is integrated within an industrial design system and reuses pre- and post-processing tools previously developed for another kind of applications. The trend of the losses with the Reynolds number has a sub-critical regime, where the losses scale with Re−1, and a supercrital regime, where the losses scale with Re−1/2. This trend can be seen both, in the simulations and the experiments.


1980 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 293-299
Author(s):  
Lawrence D. Cloutman

AbstractThe solar granulation has been simulated by numerical solution of the multidimensional, time-dependent, nonlinear Navier-Stokes equations applied to the solar atmosphere. Granules may be explained as buoyantly rising bubbles created at the level where T = 8000 K, and which have collapsed into vortex rings. The calculation is in quantitative agreement with observations and has a number of implications for solar physics and convection theory.


Author(s):  
Antoine Placzek ◽  
Jean-Franc¸ois Sigrist ◽  
Aziz Hamdouni

The numerical simulation of the flow past a circular cylinder forced to oscillate transversely to the incident stream is presented here for a fixed Reynolds number equal to 100. The 2D Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a classical Finite Volume Method with an industrial CFD code which has been coupled with a user subroutine to obtain an explicit staggered procedure providing the cylinder displacement. A preliminary work is conducted in order to check the computation of the wake characteristics for Reynolds numbers smaller than 150. The Strouhal frequency fS, the lift and drag coefficients CL and CD are thus controlled among other parameters. The simulations are then performed with forced oscillations f0 for different frequency rations F = f0/fS in [0.50–1.50] and an amplitude A varying between 0.25 and 1.25. The wake characteristics are analysed using the time series of the fluctuating aerodynamic coefficients and their FFT. The frequency content is then linked to the shape of the phase portrait and to the vortex shedding mode. By choosing interesting couples (A,F), different vortex shedding modes have been observed, which are similar to those of the Williamson-Roshko map.


2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 724-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fon-Chieh Chang ◽  
John R. Hull

A computer model was developed to predict eddy currents and fluid flows in molten steel. The model was verified by comparing predictions with experimental results of liquid-metal containment and fluid flow in electromagnetic (EM) edge dams (EMDs) designed at Inland Steel (Ispat Industries Ltd.) for twin-roll casting. This mathematical model can greatly shorten casting research on the use of EM fields for liquid metal containment and control. It can also optimize the existing casting processes and minimize expensive, time-consuming full-scale testing. The model was verified by comparing predictions with experimental results of liquid metal containment and fluid flow in EM edge dams designed at Inland Steel (Ispat Industries Ltd.) for twin-roll casting. Numerical simulation was performed by coupling a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element EM code (ELEKTRA) and a 3D finite-difference fluids code (CaPS-EM) to solve Maxwell’s equations, Ohm’s law, Navier-Stokes equations, and transport equations of turbulence flow in a casting process that uses EM fields. ELEKTRA is able to predict the eddy-current distribution and EM forces in complex geometry. CaPS-EM is capable of modeling fluid flows with free surfaces and dynamic rollers. The computed 3D magnetic fields and induced eddy currents in ELEKTRA are used as input to flow-field computations in CaPS-EM. Results of the numerical simulation compared well with measurements obtained from both static and dynamic tests.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bolinches-Gisbert ◽  
David Cadrecha Robles ◽  
Roque Corral ◽  
Fernando Gisbert

Abstract A comprehensive comparison between implicit large eddy simulations (ILES) and experimental results of a modern high-lift low-pressure turbine airfoil has been carried out for an array of Reynolds numbers (Re). Experimental data were obtained in a low-speed linear cascade at the Polytechnic University of Madrid using hot-wire anemometry and laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV). The numerical code is fourth-order accurate, both in time and space. The spatial discretization of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations is based on a high-order flux reconstruction approach while a fourth-order Runge–Kutta method is used to march in time the simulations. The losses, pressure coefficient distributions, and boundary layer and wake velocity profiles have been compared for an array of realistic Reynolds numbers. Moreover, boundary layer and wake velocity fluctuations are compared for the first time with experimental results. It is concluded that the accuracy of the numerical results is comparable to that of the experiments, especially for integral quantities such as the losses or exit angle. Turbulent fluctuations in the suction side boundary layer and the wakes are well predicted too. The elapsed time of the simulations is about 140 h on 40 graphics processor units. The numerical tool is integrated within an industrial design system and reuses pre- and post-processing tools previously developed for another kind of applications. The trend of the losses with the Reynolds number has a sub-critical regime, where the losses scale with Re−1, and a supercritical regime, where the losses scale with Re−1/2. This trend can be seen both in the simulations and in the experiments.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. von Kaenel ◽  
N. A. Adams ◽  
L. Kleiser ◽  
J. B. Vos

The approximate deconvolution model for large-eddy simulation is formulated for a second-order finite volume scheme. With the approximate deconvolution model, an approximation of the unfiltered solution is obtained by repeated filtering, and given a good approximation of the unfiltered solution, the nonlinear terms of the Navier-Stokes equations are computed directly. The effect of scales not represented on the numerical grid is modeled by a relaxation regularization involving a secondary filter operation. A turbulent channel flow at a Mach number of M=1.5 and a Reynolds number based on bulk quantities of Re=3000 is selected for validation of the approximate deconvolution model implementation in a finite volume code. A direct numerical simulation of this configuration has been computed by Coleman et al. Overall, our large-eddy simulation results show good agreement with our filtered direct numerical simulation data. For this rather simple configuration and the low-order spatial discretization, differences between approximate deconvolution model and a no-model computation are found to be small.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry Hawkins ◽  
Dara Childs ◽  
Keith Hale

Experimental measurements are presented for the rotordynamic stiffness and damping coefficients of a teeth-on-rotor labyrinth seal with a honeycomb stator. Inlet circumferential velocity, inlet pressure, rotor speed, and seal clearance are primary variables. Results are compared to (a) data for teeth-on-rotor labyrinth seals with smooth stators, and (b) analytical predictions from a two-control-volume compressible flow model. The experimental results show that the honeycomb-stator configuration is more stable than the smooth-stator configuration at low rotor speeds. At high rotor speeds, the stator surface does not affect stability. The theoretical model predicts the cross-coupled stiffness of the honeycomb-stator seal correctly within 25 percent of measured values. The model provides accurate predictions of direct damping for large clearance seals; however, the model predictions and test results diverge with increasing running speed. Overall, the model does not perform as well for low clearance seals as for high clearance seals.


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