Theoretical optimization and experiment on lubrication of floating microgroove cylindrical seal
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 9 June 2020
Issue publication date: 13 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze and improve the lubrication performance of a floating cylindrical seal by investigating micro spiral groove.
Design/methodology/approach
The lubrication model of is solved by finite difference, considering the influence of convergence eccentricity and Rayleigh step on the gas film period. A lubrication model, which is a gas film of floating microgroove cylindrical seal, is solved under high-precision central difference (finite-difference method-center) for the critical problems of convergence eccentricity and Rayleigh step. And then, an idea on the opening-leakage ratio is proposed, and a multiobjective optimization model is established. Finally, an experiment is conducted on a narrow gap to determine the gas film opening force and leakage by the modules of testing system, and the theoretical results are verified by real tests.
Findings
The theoretical calculation results agree well with the experimental data, which proves the correctness of the lubrication optimization model, and the optimized groove has better lubrication performance. On the other hand, the sealing pressure plays a more important role in the seal operation.
Originality/value
The theoretical model carries out low complexity and high sparseness, thus being very suitable for large-scale gas film problems. A multiobjective optimal function is established based on the opening-leakage ratio for optimizing groove. Finally, a curved groove of high precision and gas film opening force is obtained completely.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2020-0048/
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The work presented is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Award No. 51905480, the Ningbo science and technology innovation 2025 major projects, China, under Award No. 2018B10007 and the National Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo, China, under Award No. 2019A610161.
Citation
Lu, J. (2020), "Theoretical optimization and experiment on lubrication of floating microgroove cylindrical seal", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 72 No. 10, pp. 1217-1226. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-02-2020-0048
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited