Gas Damper Seal Test Results, Theoretical Correlation, And Applications In Design Of High-Pressure Compressors.

Abstract

The rotordynamic and leaking characteristics of two types of gas damper seals, honeycomb seal and pocket damper seal, were experimentally evaluated on a rotating test rig. The effect of supply pressure, preswirl, and seal eccentricity on seal dynamic performance was investigated in the tests. The pressurized working gas flowed through the seal and exhausted to atmospheric conditions. The maximum seal supply pressure was limited to 500 psia. By simulating the rotor experimental unbalance response and amplification factors based on a well-established rotor model, the equivalent stiffness and damping coefficients were estimated for tested gas damper seals. Experimental results confirm that both honeycomb and pocket damper seals provide high positive effective damping. On the other hand, the pocket damper seal increases the first critical speed. A correlation study was performed between the identified rotordynamic coefficients and predictions obtained from existing theoretical models for both honeycomb and pocket damper seals. In this paper is discussed as well a damper seal design and its impact on the rotordynamic performance of an industrial high-pressure compressor rotor.