Performance mapping of rectangular-rounded hydraulic reciprocating seals to minimize leakage, frictional work and abrasive wear with the aid of a duty parameter

Abstract

The performance of rectangular-rounded, elastomeric, hydraulic rod seals for reciprocating motion is theoretically evaluated in terms of the mass leakage per cycle, frictional work and abrasive wear. Maximal sealing performance is admitted when the leakage per cycle is nullified in conjunction with having minimal frictional work and minimal abrasive wear. This study proposes a method to construct sealing performance maps based on a newly defined duty parameter. The maps are subsequently taken advantage of to select optimal values of important parameters such as the sealed pressure, the stroking velocity and the edge radius of curvature of a seal for maximal performance. The selection process is automated by an objective function, which combines the effects of friction and abrasive wear under a leakage constraint. This could allow educated adjustments to a sealing system in real time, as for example, to compensate for the change of a seal’s edge radius as a result of abrasion, using either condition monitoring or a predictive wear model. A linear relation between the average film thickness of a sealing contact and the new duty parameter is also established, allowing for a semi-analytical estimation of the film thickness for any lubricating conditions.