Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer Behavior of Upstream Pumping Mechanical Face Seals

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Tribology
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Directional grooves in aero-engine seals facilitate upstream pumping, improving service life and reducing leakage.
• However, this phenomenon introduces complexities in gas-liquid mass transfer within the sealing clearance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gas-liquid mass transfer behavior in mechanical face seals with elliptical grooves.
• To analyze the impact of elliptical grooves on the opening force and sealing performance.
• To incorporate cavitation effects into the analytical model.

Main Methods:

• Development of an analytical model for gas-liquid mass transfer in mechanical face seals.
• Inclusion of cavitation effects in the model.
• Simulation of seal performance under varying operational conditions.

Main Results:

• Gas medium transfers from low-pressure to high-pressure sides with increased rotational speed.
• Liquid leakage rate increases with sealing clearance, rotational speed, and seal pressure.
• Upstream pumping effect creates gas-liquid mixed lubrication and enhances seal face opening capacity.

Conclusions:

• Elliptical grooves in mechanical face seals promote gas-liquid mixed lubrication and increase opening force.
• The analytical model provides insights into optimizing seal design for improved performance.
• Findings support the design of advanced upstream pumping mechanical face seals for aero-engines.