Fluid Temperature and Film Coefficient Prediction and Measurement in Mechanical Face Seals—Experimental Results

Abstract

Experiments were run where the temperature of the sealed fluid was measured in a seal chamber in a plane moving in the radial and axial directions. Temperatures within the nonrotating mating ring were also measured. Tests were run at various speeds, flush flow rates, and flush flow directions in water and oil. Details of the experimental apparatus, procedure, operating conditions, and the test results are summarized in the paper. The experimental results confirm the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predicted results made based on the model presented in the previous paper entitled 'Fluid Temperature and Film Coefficient Prediction and Measurement in Mechanical Face Seals–Theoretical Results” in most respects.

Several important conclusions were reached. For flush flow-cooled seals, the fluid temperature surrounding the seal is nearly uniform with small increases occurring only very near to the seal interface. The heat generated by the seal interface and by viscous dissipation in the sealed fluid is taken up by the fluid flow almost immediately upon entry of the flush fluid. Both experiments and modeling show the strong effect of flush flow rate on seal temperatures.

Presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting in Detroit, Michigan May 17–21, 1998

KEY WORDS:

• Face Seals
• Flow Rate
• Heat Transfer Analysis

Notes

Presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting in Detroit, Michigan May 17–21, 1998