Rotordynamic Analysis of Sealing Systems
Summary
Rotordynamic analysis of sealing systems addresses the interaction between the fluid film within a seal and the rotating shaft, a critical factor in the vibration behaviour and stability of turbomachinery. Seals—including labyrinth, annular and gas‐film types—generate fluid reaction forces that manifest as stiffness and damping coefficients, which in turn influence critical speeds, unbalance responses and safety margins. Advances in modelling techniques range from simplified bulk‐flow and perturbation methods to high‐fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with transient, dynamic-mesh capabilities. Experimental identification on test rigs often employs magnetic or electromagnetic bearings to measure force coefficients in situ. Accurate characterisation of direct stiffness, cross-coupled stiffness and damping under various operational conditions permits the design of seals that minimise leakage while enhancing stability. The global significance of this field extends to power generation, aerospace propulsion, petrochemical processing and emerging hydrogen compression, where reliable rotordynamic performance under high speed, high pressure and extreme temperatures is essential.
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Rotordynamic Analysis of Sealing Systems publication trend
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Technical terms
Rotordynamics: Study of the dynamic behaviour of rotating shafts and their response to unbalance and fluid forces.
Stiffness coefficients: Parameters quantifying the seal’s resistance to displacement both in direct and cross-coupled directions, influencing stability.
Damping coefficient: Measure of energy dissipation within the seal-fluid interaction that mitigates vibration amplitude.
Preswirl: Rotational motion imparted to the working fluid upstream of the seal, affecting force distribution and stability.
Whirl frequency ratio: Ratio of the rotor’s whirling motion frequency to its rotational speed, indicative of dynamic stability margins.
References
- Contribution to the estimation of force coefficients of plain gas seals with high preswirl considering rotor-foundation dynamics. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing (2023).
- Improving the rotordynamic stability of short labyrinth seals using positive preswirl. Journal of Vibroengineering (2020).
- Research on Rotordynamic Characteristics of Pump Annular Seals Based on a New Transient CFD Method. Processes (2020).
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