Labyrinth Seal Leakage and Thermal Performance Analysis

Labyrinth seals are non‐contacting annular seals widely used in rotating machinery to limit leakage and manage heat transfer between high‐pressure and low‐pressure regions. Their performance relies on a series of teeth and cavities that produce successive pressure drops, dissipating fluid energy through turbulence and viscous effects. Leakage behaviour is governed by geometric parameters such as clearance, tooth height, pitch and cavity width, while rotational speed introduces centrifugal and Coriolis forces that modify flow patterns and thermal boundary layers. Thermal performance analysis examines convective heat transfer at the rotor–stator interface, where flow recirculation and shear stress determine heat flux. Recent developments in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), including Reynolds‐Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES), have enhanced prediction accuracy of both leakage rates and temperature distributions. Optimisation of seal geometry and materials seeks to reduce entropy generation, improve energy efficiency and extend component life in gas turbines, compressors and aero engines.

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Labyrinth Seal Leakage and Thermal Performance Analysis publication trend

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Technical terms

Labyrinth seal: A non‐contacting annular seal with interlocking teeth and cavities that dissipate fluid energy to limit leakage.

Discharge coefficient: Dimensionless ratio of actual to ideal mass flow rate through a seal clearance.

Clearance: Radial gap between the seal tooth tip and rotating shaft surface.

Cavity width (pitch): Axial distance between successive seal teeth that influences pressure drop stages.

Large Eddy Simulation (LES): A CFD approach resolving large turbulent structures to predict unsteady flow phenomena.

Reynolds‐Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS): A turbulence model that averages Navier–Stokes equations to estimate steady‐state flow behaviour.

Convective heat transfer: Thermal energy transport due to fluid motion over the seal surfaces.

References

1. Effect of Clearance and Cavity Geometries on Leakage Performance of a Stepped Labyrinth Seal. Processes (2020).
2. Optimizing the Geometric Parameters of a Straight-Through Labyrinth Seal to Minimize the Leakage Flow Rate and the Discharge Coefficient. Energies (2021).
3. Investigation of Leakage and Heat Transfer Properties of the Labyrinth Seal on Various Rotation Speed and Geometric Parameters. Coatings (2022).
4. Large Eddy Simulation of Leakage Flow in a Stepped Labyrinth Seal. Processes (2021).
5. A Study on the Leakage Characteristics of a Stepped Labyrinth Seal with a Ribbed Casing. Energies (2021).