Turbulent flow inside the seal chamber of a pump operating at high Reynolds number is investigated. The K−ε turbulence model posed in cylindrical coordinates was applied for this purpose. Simulations are performed using the fractional approach method. The results of the computer code are verified by using the FLUENT and by comparing to published results for turbulent Taylor Couette flow. Numerical results of four cases including two rotational speeds with four flush rates are reported. Significant difference between the laminar and the turbulence flow in the seal chamber is predicted. The behavior of the turbulent flows with very high Reynolds number was also investigated. The physical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
computational fluid dynamics, seals (stoppers), turbulence, flow simulation, Couette flow, laminar flow, sealing materials, mechanical seal, flow field, CFD, K−ε turbulence model, fractional approach method
Topics:
Flow (Dynamics), Turbulence, Computational fluid dynamics
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Copyright © 2007
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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