Abstract
Purpose This study aims to study the gas film stiffness of the spiral groove dry gas seal. Design/methodology/approach The present study represents the first attempt to calculate gas film stiffness in consideration of the slipping effect by using the new test technology for dry gas seals. First, a theoretical model of modified generalized Reynolds equation is derived with slipping effect of a micro gap for spiral groove gas seal. Second, the test technology examines micro-scale gas film vibration and stationary ring vibration to determine gas film stiffness by establishing a dynamic test system. Findings An optimum value of the spiral angle and groove depth for improved gas film stiffness is clearly seen: the spiral angle is 1.34 rad (76.8º) and the groove depth is 1 × 10–5 m. Moreover, it can be observed that optimal structural parameters can obtain higher gas film stiffness in the experiment. The average error between experiment and theory is less than 20%. Originality/value The present study represents the first attempt to calculate gas film stiffness in consideration of the slipping effect by using the new test technology for dry gas seals.
Highlights
Because of the gas film thickness of the spiral groove dry gas seal is only 3–6 m m
The gas film stiffness for spiral groove dry gas seal is studied by theoretical calculation
The gas film stiffness of a spiral groove dry gas seal based on a theoretical calculation, parameter optimization and test technology are investigated
Summary
Because of the gas film thickness of the spiral groove dry gas seal is only 3–6 m m. Xu et al presented a new design of shroud seal by using spiral-grooved gas face seal theory and analyzing the stiffness (Xu and Yang, 2016). A theoretical model solved with finite difference method is developed to study the static sealing performance and gas film stiffness is 20% larger than of common spiral groove dry gas seal. The performance of supercritical dry gas seal with a different deep spiral groove was investigated with the thermal-fluid-solid coupling method, the results showed that the average film pressure, open force and leakage decreased while the average face temperature and flow velocity increased as the spiral groove number increases (Du and Zhang, 2019). Huang et al used acoustic emission testing to investigate the starting process and the stopping process of a double dry gas seal
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