Annular seals are known to enhance rotordynamic stability margins and minimize vibration response levels in high-speed rotating machinery. Theoretical predictions for the rotordynamic characteristics of annular seals exist but additional experimental data is needed to properly anchor these results. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has developed an annular seal test rig and facility to experimentally characterize axially fed annular seals. Annular seals with deliberately roughened stators (i.e., damping seals) have been shown analytically to increase stability margins of rocket engine turbomachinery by reducing the seal’s whirl frequency ratio. The capabilities of MSFC’s annular seal test rig have been enhanced to allow high fluid inlet preswirl testing that is more representative of actual turbopump seal boundary conditions. The purpose of this paper is to describe the effect of this realistic preswirl on the stabilizing capability of both damping and smooth seals. Centered seal results are presented for both a smooth annular seal and a damping seal. These results were obtained for a range of seal pressure differentials, shaft rotational speeds, and two levels of inlet fluid preswirl.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
October 2001
Technical Papers
Comparison of the Dynamic Characteristics of Smooth Annular Seals and Damping Seals
J. M. Darden,
J. M. Darden
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, TD55, Building 4203, MSFC, AL 35812
Search for other works by this author on:
E. M. Earhart,
E. M. Earhart
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, TD55, Building 4203, MSFC, AL 35812
Search for other works by this author on:
G. T. Flowers, Assoc. Professor
G. T. Flowers, Assoc. Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn University, AL 36849-5341
Search for other works by this author on:
J. M. Darden
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, TD55, Building 4203, MSFC, AL 35812
E. M. Earhart
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, TD55, Building 4203, MSFC, AL 35812
G. T. Flowers, Assoc. Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn University, AL 36849-5341
Contributed by the International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI) of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER. Paper presented at the International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition, Indianapolis, IN, June 7–10, 1999; ASME Paper 99-GT-177. Manuscript received by IGTI, October 1998; final revision received by the ASME Headquarters, March 1999. Associate Editor: D. Wisler.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Oct 2001, 123(4): 857-863 (7 pages)
Published Online: March 1, 1999
Article history
Received:
October 1, 1998
Revised:
March 1, 1999
Citation
Darden , J. M., Earhart, E. M., and Flowers, G. T. (March 1, 1999). "Comparison of the Dynamic Characteristics of Smooth Annular Seals and Damping Seals ." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. October 2001; 123(4): 857–863. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1383256
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Shape Optimization of an Industrial Aeroengine Combustor to reduce Thermoacoustic Instability
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Dynamic Response of A Pivot-Mounted Squeeze Film Damper: Measurements and Predictions
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Review of The Impact Of Hydrogen-Containing Fuels On Gas Turbine Hot-Section Materials
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Effects of Lattice Orientation Angle On Tpms-Based Transpiration Cooling
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Related Articles
Improving the Stability of Labyrinth Gas Seals
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (April,2001)
Dynamic Coefficients of Stepped Labyrinth Gas Seals
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (July,2000)
Hydrostatic Gas Journal Bearings for Micro-Turbomachinery
J. Vib. Acoust (April,2005)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Supporting Systems/Foundations
Handbook on Stiffness & Damping in Mechanical Design
Summary and Conclusions
Bearing Dynamic Coefficients in Rotordynamics: Computation Methods and Practical Applications
Engineering Design about Electro-Hydraulic Intelligent Control System of Multi Axle Vehicle Suspension
International Conference on Instrumentation, Measurement, Circuits and Systems (ICIMCS 2011)