Experimental Investigation on Friction Performance of Mechanical Seals with a Laser-Textured Seal Face

Abstract

Regular micro-surface structure in the form of micro-pores produced on the face of mechanical seals by laser technology can be used to improve the friction performance of the seal mating rings. A test rig with variable axial load was used to test laser-textured seal rings with micro-pores of various pore depth and pore ratio to study the effect of the laser-textured seal face structure parameters on the friction performance of mechanical seals. It is found that there are optimum texturing face parameters at which the friction torque and the face temperature rise of seal rings are minimum. Results of these tests show that the micro-pores on one of the seal mating faces can generate substantial hydrodynamic effect. Heat generation due to frictional contact on seal-ring surfaces is a major factor that causes deterioration of face seals and shortens their service life[1,2]. Excessive temperature rise can be avoided by improving structure of a seal surface. By means of laser technology return-flow structure, oblique line groove and spherical micro-pores are engraved on the seal face[3-5]. The research shows that substantial hydrodynamic effect can be generated between the seal faces with micro-pores[6-8]. In this study experiments are performed on laser-textured micro-pores seal faces at various axial loads to investigate the effect of the face structure and operating parameters on friction torque and face temperature rise.

Numerical Analysis the Tibological Performance of a Laser Surface Textured Mechanical Seal

“…There is an optimum value of area density at which the friction torque is minimum. The optimal area density is about 50 percent, and the results are consistent with the experimental results obtained by Yu, et al [8]. As can be seen form Fig.…”

“…Etsion et al performed a thorough investigation to study the effect of various parameters on the performance of laser surface textured mechanical seal, it was found that the depth rather than area density of the dimples is the most parameter [4]. Experimental investigation demonstrated that significant improvement in the mechanical seals performance can be obtained by laser surface texturing [5][6][7][8]. Siripuram and Stephens presented a numerical study of the effect of deterministic microasperity geometry on hydrodynamic lubrication performance [9].…”

Study on the friction and wear performance of the micro-surface textured face seal under the water-lubricated conditions

“…Then, Pride et al [5] studied the effect of microsurface texturing on breakaway torque and blister formation on carbon-graphite face, and the results showed that few blisters occurs, and low surface traction forces reduce the formation of the surface cracks of the seal. Yu et al [6], Yi and Dang-Sheng [7] carried out the tribological experiments and investigated the effect of the face structure and operating parameters on friction torque, face temperature rise, wear, etc. Bai et al [8], Yu et al [9] and Gao et al [10] developed the different theoretical model of the hydrodynamic effect of the hydrodynamic laser surface textured mechanical face seal, and the influences of the geometry parameters on the performance of the seal were discussed; their results showed that the orientation dimples could greatly improve hydrodynamic effect, and even the open force improved more than 20% [8].…”

Fluid-structure interaction coupling for elastohydrodynamic lubricated micro structured contacts

“…Experiments by ETSION et al [3] proved that a suitable microstructure can increase the lubrication gap by three times and reduce friction by more than half. Yu and Wang et al [4,5] used different micro-textured surfaces to reduce friction and improve dynamic fluid pressure accumulation. Some microstructures have been proven to be suitable for reducing friction and have practical applications in the industrial field.…”