Characteristics analysis of mechanical seal face based on thermo-hydrodynamic effect

Abstract

The thermo-hydrodynamic effect of the non-contact mechanical seal includes the liquid film flow characteristics and heat transfer characteristics of the seal face. It is of great practical significance to study the effects of friction and thermal deformation on the liquid film flow characteristics and heat transfer characteristics of the mechanical seal. This paper obtains the governing equation of the liquid film flow characteristics of the mechanical seal based on the momentum conservation and mass conservation equations, and then studies the thermohydrodynamic effect mechanism of the mechanical seal face through the coupling analysis of the interactions between the mechanical seal ring and the liquid film. The research results show that the mechanical seal face is deformed under the action of friction and mechanical force, and the liquid film flow characteristics of the end face changes. The liquid film pressure of the parallel flow channel increases linearly along the axial direction, and the liquid film pressure of the non-parallel flow channel exhibits a non-linear increase in a "convex" or "concave" direction; the leakage rate of the parallel flow channel is the smallest, followed by that of the convergent flow channel and then that of the divergent one. The liquid film bearing capacity of the convergent channel is the largest and that of the divergent one is the smallest. Overall, the performance of the parallel flow channel is the most stable. When the mechanical seal face is only subjected to the friction of the liquid film, the larger the angular frequency, the smaller the thickness of the liquid film, and the more heat generated by the friction. The heat transfer coefficient of the rotating ring is much greater than that of the stationary ring, so the heat absorption of the former is also significantly higher than that of the latter. The research results can provide theoretical reference for the study of the non-contact mechanical seal mechanism and the practical application of the thermo-hydrodynamic effect.

Simulation and Numerical Modeling of Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel Mold X39CrMo17-1

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