The prediction of fluid flow through a narrow gap is a characteristic problem in fluid mechanics. In today’s turbomachinery, several applications in bearing and sealing technology are based on the phenomena of two surfaces being separated by a thin fluid film of only a few micrometers. The common method for analyzing the non-contact application’s performance usually applies the lubrication theory based on the Reynolds equation. This two-dimensional model is based on the assumption of a laminar viscous flow field, isothermal conditions and it takes aerostatic as well as aerodynamic effects into account. In cases of a complex geometry and challenging flow conditions this approach has its limitations. The usage of commercial state of the art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software allows the circumvention of these restrictions. As a matter of fact CFD simulations take up high effort in terms of preparation and calculation time. The present contribution compares the numerical approaches with regard to the application’s performance accuracy and calculation effort, using the example of a dry gas seal. To extend the Reynolds equation’s applicability to a wide variety of geometries, a method for implementing the topography design with high fidelity is depicted. The numerical methods are performed for various dry gas seal designs at different operating conditions and are compared with reference data.
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ASME Turbo Expo 2016: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition
June 13–17, 2016
Seoul, South Korea
Conference Sponsors:
- International Gas Turbine Institute
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4971-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Comparison of Different Numerical Approaches for Determination of Compressible Fluid Flow in Narrow Gaps
Alexander Kefalas,
Alexander Kefalas
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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Friedrich-Karl Benra,
Friedrich-Karl Benra
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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Dieter Brillert,
Dieter Brillert
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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Hans Josef Dohmen
Hans Josef Dohmen
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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Alexander Kefalas
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
Friedrich-Karl Benra
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
Dieter Brillert
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
Hans Josef Dohmen
University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
Paper No:
GT2016-57898, V02CT39A051; 13 pages
Published Online:
September 20, 2016
Citation
Kefalas, A, Benra, F, Brillert, D, & Dohmen, HJ. "Comparison of Different Numerical Approaches for Determination of Compressible Fluid Flow in Narrow Gaps." Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2016: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 2C: Turbomachinery. Seoul, South Korea. June 13–17, 2016. V02CT39A051. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2016-57898
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