NUMERICAL STUDY OF TEMPERATURE AND VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN MECHANICAL SEALS WITHOUT FLUSH FLOW USING UNSTRUCTURED GRID

A. AlAwaidi, F.

doi:10.21608/erjm.2003.82582

NUMERICAL STUDY OF TEMPERATURE AND VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN MECHANICAL SEALS WITHOUT FLUSH FLOW USING UNSTRUCTURED GRID

Document Type : Original Article

Author

F. A. AlAwaidi

Mechanical Technology Department, Riyadh College of Technology General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT)

10.21608/erjm.2003.82582

Abstract

In this paper, numerical analysis of heat transfer problems in mechanical seals has
been investigated by predicting the temperature and velocity distributions within the sealed
fluid in the flow field above the inner cylinder of the mechanical seal. This prediction has
been performed using FLUENT, a computational fluid dynamics computer program, which is,
used for modeling fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical reaction problems. Three-
dimensional axisymmetric model has been developed which includes symmetrical inlet
conditions of the fluid without flush flow. The results of a typical seal model have been
computed and analyzed. The heat-generation is distributed along the interface contact regions.
Results using unstructured grid distribution in the heat generation region have been studied.
This analysis is important since temperature changes greatly alter the seal geometry. At high
temperatures the sealed fluid may become a vapor, and at high or low temperatures the seal
materials may behave differently. This study will lead to a greater understanding of the
behavior and performance of the mechanical seals by providing more knowledge of the entire
seal thermal environment.