Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fluid-structure interaction analysis of annular seals and rotor systems in multi-stage pumps

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Annular seals play an important role in determining the vibrational behavior of rotors in multi-stage pumps. To determine the critical speeds and unbalanced responses of rotor systems which consider annular seals, a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) method was developed, and the numerical method was verified by experiments conducted on a model rotor. In a typical FSI process, rotor systems are modeled based on a node-element method, and the motion equations are expressed in a type of matrix. To consider the influence of annular seals, dynamic coefficients of annular seals were introduced into the motion equations through matrix transformation. The test results of the model rotor showed good agreement with the calculated results. Based on the FSI method proposed here, the governing equations of annular seals were solved in two different ways. The results showed that the Childs method is more accurate in predicting a rotor’s critical speed. The critical speeds of the model rotor were calculated at different clearance sizes and length/diameter ratios. Tilting coefficients of long seals were added to the dynamic coefficients to consider the influence of tilting. The critical speeds reached their maximum value when the L/D ratio was around 1.25, and tilting enhanced the rotor’s stability when long annular seals were located in either end of the shaft.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. A. Lomakin, Calculating of critical speed and securing of dynamic stability of high pressure pumps with reference to forces arising in seal gaps, Energomashinostroenie, 4(1) (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Z. X. Lu, Numerical calculation of dynamic coefficients of angular seal ring, Chinese Journal of Applied Mechanics, 12(1) (1995) 81–86.

    Google Scholar 

  3. H. F. Black, Effects of hydraulic forces in annular pressure seals on the vibrations of centrifugal pump rotors, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 11(2) (1969) 206–113.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. H. F. Black and D. N. Jenssen, Dynamic hybrid properties of annular pressure seals, Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 184 (1970) 92–100.

    Google Scholar 

  5. D. W. Childs, Dynamic analysis of turbulent annular seals based on hirs’ lubrication equation, Journal of Lubrication Technology, 105 (1983) 429–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. D. W. Childs, Finite-length solutions for rotordynamic coefficients of turbulent annular seals, Journal of Lubrication Technology, 105 (1983) 437–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. C. Nelson and D. Nguyen, Comparison of Hirs’ equation with Moody’s equation for determining rotordynamic coefficients of annular pressure seals, Journal of Tribology, 109 (1987) 144–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. F. Dietzen and R. Normann, Calculating rotordynamic coefficients of seals by finite difference techniques, Journal of Tribology, 109(3) (1987) 388–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. D. W. Childs, Turbomachinery rotordynamics: phenomena, modeling, and analysis, Wiley (1993) 275–277.

    Google Scholar 

  10. E. A. Baskharone and A. S. Daniel, Rotor dynamic effects of the shroud-to-housing leakage flow in centrifugal pumps, Journal of Fluids Engineering, 116 (1994) 558–563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. D. W. Childs, Vibration characteristics of the high pressure oxygen turbopump of the space shuttle main engine, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 107 (1985) 152–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. D. W. Childs and C. H. Kim, Testing results for roundhole-pattern damper seals: optimum configuration and dimensions for maximum net damping, Journal of Tribology, 108 (1986) 605–611.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. D. W. Childs, S. Nolan and J. Kilgore, Additional test results for round-hole-pattern damper seals: leakage, friction factors, and rotordynamic force coefficients, Journal of Tribology, 112 (1990) 365–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Y. Kanemori and T. Iwatsubo, Experimental study of dynamic fluid forces and moments for long annular seal, Journal of Tribology, 114 (1992) 773–778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Y. Tsujimoto, Y. Yoshida, H. Ohashi, N. Teramoto and S. Ishizaki, Fluid force moment on a centrifugal impeller shroud in precessing motion, Journal of Fluids Engineering, 119 (1997) 366–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. E. B. Christopher and J. A. Allan, Fluid-induced rotordynamic forces and instabilities, Structure Control and Health Monitoring, 13 (2006) 10–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. T. Suzuki, R. Prunieres, H. Horiguchi, T. Tsukiya and Y. Taenaka, Measurements of rotordynamic forces on an artificial heart pump impeller, Journal of Fluids Engineering, 129 (2007) 1422–1427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Y. E. Zhong, Y. Z. He and Z. Wang, Rotor dynamics, Beijing, Tsinghua University Press (1987) 178–183.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Q. L. Jiang, L. L. Zai, L. Q. Wang and D. Z. Wu, Fluidstructure interaction analysis on turbulent annular seals of centrifugal pumps during transient process, Mathematical Problems in Engineering (2011) 929574, 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Nuclear Power Operation Technology Corporation, LTD., Wuhan, China

    Qinglei Jiang

  2. Institute of Process Equipment, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Qinglei Jiang, Lulu Zhai, Leqin Wang & Dazhuan Wu

Authors
  1. Qinglei Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lulu Zhai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leqin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dazhuan Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dazhuan Wu.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Ohseop Song

Qinglei Jiang has a Ph.D. in fluid machinery and vibration. He graduated from Zhejiang University and is now working at China Nuclear Power Operation Technology Corporation, LTD. He is currently engaged in the fluid-induced vibration and aerodynamic noise in steam generators.

Dazhuan Wu is currently an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in 1999 and his Ph.D. in 2004 from Zhejiang University in China. His major research interests include optimal design, transient flow, cavitation, vibration and noise in fluid machinery.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jiang, Q., Zhai, L., Wang, L. et al. Fluid-structure interaction analysis of annular seals and rotor systems in multi-stage pumps. J Mech Sci Technol 27, 1893–1902 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-0507-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-0507-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation