CFD Predictions of the Rotordynamic Coefficients of a Labyrinth Seal Using a Novel Domain-Decomposition Preconditioner

Abstract

This dissertation presents methods for the prediction of the rotordynamic coefficients of annular gas seals using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Improvements to an in-house Navier–Stokes solver for the purpose of investigating seal flows are discussed in this work. These improvements include an implicit method using an iterative linear solver. Additionally, a novel domain-decomposition preconditioner is developed in this work.

The solver improvements are demonstrated on small test problems. Simulations are then presented for the prediction of seal rotordynamic coefficients. The results are compared with experimental data from the literature.

The solver improvements are demonstrated on small test problems. Simulations are then presented for the prediction of seal rotordynamic coefficients. The results

are compared with experimental data from the literature.