Gas Flow Simulation in the Working Gap of Impulse Gas-Barrier Face Seal

Abstract

Numerical simulation method of the working process of a centrifugal unit contactless face impulse seal is proposed. A seal functioning physical model was created. Its operation key aspects that are not taken into account in the traditional methods of calculating contactless impulse seals are identified. A numerical simulation of seal working process based on the Reynolds equation solution for the medium vortex-free motion in the gap between moving surfaces is proposed. Hypothesis that simplify the equation’s numerical solution for the face impulse seal is formulated. The numerical solution is obtained using the boundary element method. Based on the obtained numerical solution, the distribution of the working medium pressure field in the seal gap is simulated.

Keywords

• impulse gas seal
• barrier gas
• boundary element method
• pressure distribution