Analysis of the Dynamic Friction of a Gas Face Seal Based on Acoustic Emissions

Abstract

Acoustic emission (AE) signals produced by the dynamic friction of a gas face seal are analyzed to uncover their information concerning the status of the seal. Experiments were conducted with a gas face seal test rig. By adjusting different operating parameters, friction occurred in different ways and produced discrepant AE signals. The root-mean-square value of AE signals under different operating conditions has varied fluctuations on a timescale of the rotation period, which distinguishes different dynamic friction patterns and furthermore shows the significant discrepancy of how dynamic friction is affected by different operating parameters. Numerical simulations using a dynamic model for a gas face seal with contact coupled were performed. A combination of the experiments and numerical simulations validates the dynamic friction dependence on waviness, which can be reflected by AE signals. This research demonstrates the approach of revealing the real-time friction status of a seal by analyzing AE signals on a timescale of the rotation period.