Numerical Simulation and the Effect of Rotational Speed on the Performance and Thickness of the Gas Film of Dry Gas Seal of the Centrifugal Compressor

Subject Areas : Journal of New Applied and Computational Findings in Mechanical Systems

Navid Bozorgan ¹ (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Abadan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadan, Iran)
Arash Ostovari ² (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Khoramshahr, Khoramshahr, Iran)
Nadia Jalalifar ³ (Department of Chemical Engineering, Abadan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadan, Iran)
Moosa Ghasemi ⁴ (Abadan oil Refinery Company)

Received: 2022-01-31 Accepted : 2022-03-16 Published : 2022-02-20

Keywords: Groove, Simulation, Dry Gas Seal,

Abstract :

In this paper, using computational fluid dynamics, the dynamic properties of the flow in the two-way grooves of a centrifugal compressor gas seal are simulated. The computational area consists of a gas film between two fixed and rotating rings and the space inside the grooves. Leak performance is tested at thicknesses of 3.08 and 5.08 μm. In order to perform the numerical solution, the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations are solved assuming complete gas using disorganized cells. The flow regime is considered layered. The results obtained include the pressure distribution. The results of numerical solution of the geometric model with bidirectional C-shaped groove were evaluated with Gabriel experimental results. Geometry discussed in this dissertation is the geometry of dry gas compressor C-14200 alkylation unit of Abadan Oil Company. The results show that the rotation speed of the Dry Gas Seal, or DGS for short, has a significant effect on the hydrodynamic effect, while the pressure of the outer radius and the thickness of the gas film both reduce the hydrodynamic effect.

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