Experimental investigation on frictional property of mechanical seals with varying dimple diameter along the radial face

Abstract

To study frictional property of mechanical seals when distributing dimples with varying parameters along the radial face, friction experiments, including seal faces with varying dimple diameter in various types, invariable dimple diameter, and without dimples, were carried out on end-face tester under different loads and rotation speeds. The results show that the introduction of dimples on seal face does reduce friction coefficient efficiently, but its anti-friction effect is closely related to the arrangement manner of dimple diameter and the operation condition. The type with increasing dimple diameters along the radial face from the inner to the outer diameter should be more suitable for the design of seal faces for its smaller friction coefficient when comparing with the type with optimum invariable dimple diameter. On the other hand, the operation condition, including loads and rotation speeds, must be taken into account to determine how to increase the dimple diameter along the radial face from the inner to the outer diameter. The results could be a good start for further theoretical study to search for the optimum varying dimple parameters of mechanical seals.