A numerical formulation is presented for the dynamic analysis of spiral-grooved gas lubricated mechanical face seals with a flexibly mounted stator. Axial and angular modes of motion are considered. Both finite volume and finite element methods are employed for the spatial discretization of the unsteady, compressible form of the Reynolds equation. Self-adapting unwinding schemes are employed in both methods, making them suitable for situations when the compressibility number is high. Both the lubrication analysis and the kinetic analysis are arranged into a single state space form, which makes coupling the two analyses straightforward. The resulting set of equations is solved using a linear multistep ordinary differential equation solver. Examples of the transient response to static stator misalignment and rotor runout are given. Although a properly designed spiral grooved face seal provides good dynamic performance, it is shown that unacceptably large face separation can occur when large angle spiral grooves are employed together with a sealing dam.
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e-mail: millerba@umr.edu
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April 2001
Technical Papers
Numerical Formulation for the Dynamic Analysis of Spiral-Grooved Gas Face Seals
Brad A. Miller,
e-mail: millerba@umr.edu
Brad A. Miller
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405
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Itzhak Green
Itzhak Green
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405
Search for other works by this author on:
Brad A. Miller
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405
e-mail: millerba@umr.edu
Itzhak Green
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405
Contributed by the Tribology Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for presentation at the STLE/ASME Tribology Conference, Seattle, WA, October 1–4. Manuscript received by the Tribology Division Dec. 14, 1999; revised manuscript received May 2, 2000. Paper No. 2000-TRIB-5. Associate Editor: D. P. Fleming.
J. Tribol. Apr 2001, 123(2): 395-403 (9 pages)
Published Online: May 2, 2000
Article history
Received:
December 14, 1999
Revised:
May 2, 2000
Citation
Miller, B. A., and Green, I. (May 2, 2000). "Numerical Formulation for the Dynamic Analysis of Spiral-Grooved Gas Face Seals ." ASME. J. Tribol. April 2001; 123(2): 395–403. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1308015
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