EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL ASSESSMENT OF AN ADVANCED LABYRINTH SEAL

A previously validated finite difference computer model for seal leakage was used in developing an advanced seal with reduced leakage. A new design feature is an annular groove judiciously located in the stator housing. A detailed assessment of this preliminary groove configuration was conducted, both experimentally and computationally. It was found that the presence of the particular groove considered here contributes an approximately 20 percent decrease in leakage, while introducing no shaft speed effects. To enhance physical insight, detailed computed distributions of stream-lines are included. Further, the interesting measured effect of the relative axial position of the rotor/stator sealing surfaces on leakage rate and stator wall axial pressure distribution is examined.