Abstract
An effective way to improve the combined performance of mechanical seals is to optimize their surface textures using multi-objective optimization method. For compatibility with the multi-objective optimization algorithm, the theoretical performance of a mechanical seal is often determined using the finite-difference method (FDM). However, compared with the finite-volume method (FVM) and finite-element method (FEM), FDM is weaker for dealing with the issue of discontinuous film thickness for a textured surface. In the present study, the thermo-hydrodynamic lubrication model of a mechanical seal is modified by means of an equivalent-thickness treatment, and the accuracy of the modified lubrication model is assessed by comparing its predictions for film pressure and temperature with published FVM and FEM results, showing that the equivalent-thickness lubrication model is effective for addressing the issue of discontinuous film thickness. The present work is important in that it improves the simulation accuracy of multi-objective optimization for textured mechanical seals.
Highlights
In rotating machinery, leaks are prevented using mechanical seals, which have been subjected to much work to reduce friction and wear as well as leaks
A surface texture with low friction or high opening force often results in a high rate of leakage [3,4,5], which is due to the produced opening force increasing the clearance available to the mechanical seal rings, thereby increasing the leakage [5]
The present study provides a necessary theoretical basis for combining the modified finitedifference method (FDM) with the multi-objective optimization of textured mechanical seals in future research
Summary
Leaks are prevented using mechanical seals, which have been subjected to much work to reduce friction and wear as well as leaks. Siripuram and Stephens [4] found that, for positive asperity, maximum leakage to occur at an asperity area fraction of 0.2, at which the friction coefficient is minimum; for negative asperity, the leakage tends to increase with decreasing friction coefficient To address this contradiction between friction and leakage, Wang et al [3,6] used multi-objective optimization to obtain an optimal texture based on an asymmetric. Thermal effects are important when simulating a textured mechanical seal using a lubrication model [9,10,11,12,13,14]. For lubrication models involving a textured surface, the problem of film thickness discontinuity often occurs. A three-dimensional lubrication model is presented that considers film thickness discontinuity and thermal effects. The present work is important in that it will improve the simulation accuracy in future multi-objective optimizations of textured mechanical seals
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