In this study, a three-dimensional thermohydrodynamic (THD) CFD model is developed to study the characteristics of an inward pumping spiral groove mechanical seal pair using a commercial CFD software CFD-ACE + . The model is capable of predicting the temperature distribution and pressure distribution of the seal pair. Based on the CFD model, a parametric study is conducted to evaluate the performance of the seal. It is found that thermal behavior plays an important role in the overall performance of a seal. The spiral groove parameter can be optimized to achieve desired performance. The optimization is dependent on the application requirement of the seal.
Issue Section:
Hydrodynamic Lubrication
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.Copyright © 2012
by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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