Experimental and numerical investigation of axial single scroll integral pumping devices for dual mechanical seals

Abstract

Radial flow pumping rings receive the flow radially which is perpendicular on the shaft while axial flow pumping rings receive the flow in a direction parallel to the shaft (axially). An experimental investigation is carried out to evaluate the single axial pumping ring performance with a non API design radial clearance. The experimental setup is constructed according to API plan 53B with an accumulator-based seal support system in the barrier circuit loop. Furthermore, a numerical investigation is conducted to provide a reliable numerical model represented by ANSYS Fluent by creating an acceptable meshing and turbulence modeling using the experimental results as a validation method. As for the numerical investigation, it is indicated that K-epsilon realizable turbulence model is the best numerical model in terms of the least error deviation between the numerical model’s performance curve and the experimental performance curve.