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The purpose of this study is to investigate the sealing performance of different deep groove mechanical seals by considering the changing law of dynamic pressure effect and temperature gradient caused by high speed and high pressure.

A thermohydrodynamic lubrication model (THD) of the mechanical seal was constructed and solved using the commercial software FLUENT. The pressure and temperature distributions of the fluid under different groove types, as well as the sealing performance under different pressures, rotational speeds and sealing gaps, are obtained.

The annular groove (AG) can effectively reduce the temperature, and the T-type spiral groove (STG) can effectively inhibit the leakage. The increase of pressure and rotational speed leads to the enhancement of dynamic pressure effect and the increase of leakage, while the sealing gap increases and the leakage increases while taking away more heat. The choice of groove type is very important to the impact of sealing performance.

In consideration of the beneficial effect of deep grooves on cooling performance, the viscous temperature equation and the impact of the thermodynamic lubrication model are evaluated in conjunction with the sealing performance of four distinct groove types. This approach provides a theoretical basis for the optimal design of mechanical seals.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2024-0184/

This paper aims to analyze the characteristics of friction vibration signals and identify the vibration excitation source at the start and stop stage of microtextured end face of dry gas seals.

The friction pair consists of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film microtextured seal ring and a spiral groove seal ring. Friction vibration signal feature extraction method based on harmonic wavelet packet and spectrum analysis was proposed. Signals were collected using acceleration sensor, acquisition card and LabVIEW software. Vibration acceleration signal was decomposed into 32 frequency bands using MATLAB wavelet packet transformation. The 32nd band coefficient was extracted for reconstruction, time-domain and spectral waveforms were obtained and spectra before/after denoising were compared.

The end face of the DLC film microtextured seal ring generates a good dynamic pressure effect, and the friction and vibration reduction effects are obvious. The harmonic wavelet packet can decompose the vibration signal conveniently and precisely. In the case of this experiment, the frequency of vibration of the seal ring is 7500 HZ.

The results show that the method is effective for the processing of friction vibration signal and the identification of vibration excitation source. The findings will provide ideas for the frictional vibration signal processing and basis for further research in the field of tribology of dry gas seal ring.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-03-2024-0084/

The purpose of this study is to investigate the sealing performance of S-CO₂ dry gas seals (DGSs) by considering the effects of pressure-induced deformation, thermal deformation and coupling deformation.

A hydrodynamic lubrication flow model of S-CO₂ DGS was established, and the model was solved using the finite difference and finite element methods. The pressure-induced deformation and thermal deformation of the sealing ring, as well as the sealing performance under the effects of pressure-induced deformation, thermal deformation and coupling deformation, were obtained.

The deformation of the sealing ring is mainly thermal deformation. The influence of pressure-induced deformation on leakage and gas film stiffness is greater than that of thermal deformation and coupling deformation. However, thermal deformation has a greater impact on friction torque and minimum film thickness than pressure-induced deformation and coupling deformation. The influence of deformations on sealing performance is important.

The sealing performance of S-CO₂ DGSs was analyzed considering the effect of pressure-induced deformation, thermal deformation and coupling deformation, which can provide a theoretical basis for S-CO₂ DGS optimization design.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2023-0120/

This study aims to research the influence mechanism of microtextured geometric parameters of dry gas seal end face on the tribological behavior under dry frictional conditions.

The microtexture was processed using laser processing, while the diamond-like carbon (DLC) film was applied through magnetron sputtering; the experimental platform of friction vibration was established, the frictional and vibrational properties of different geometric parameters were tested; the data signals of vibrational acceleration and frictional torque were collected and processed using data acquisition instrument. The entropy characteristic parameters of 3D vibrational acceleration were extracted based on wavelet packet decomposition method. The end-face topography was measured with ST400 three-dimensional noncontact surface topography instrument.

The geometry of pits plays a key role in influencing friction performance; the permutation entropy and fuzzy entropy of the vibration acceleration signal changed with variations in microtextured parameters. A textured surface with appropriately size parameters can trap debris, enhance the dynamic pressure effect, reduce impact between the friction interfaces and improve the frictional vibrational performance. In this research, microtextured surface with Φ150 µm-10% and Φ200 µm-5% can effectively reduce friction and vibration between the end faces of a dry gas seal.

DLC film improves the hardness of seal ring end face, and microtexture improves the dynamic effect; the tribological behavior monitoring can be realized by analyzing the characteristics of vibration acceleration sensitive parameter with friction state. The findings will provide a basis for further research in the field of tribology and the microtexture optimization of dry gas seal ring end face.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2023-0389/

This study aims to investigate the influence mechanism of thermal-mechanical deformations on the CO₂ mixture gases dry gas seal (DGS) flow field and compare the deformation characteristics and sealing performance between two-way and one-way thermal-fluid-solid coupling models.

The authors established a two-way thermal-fluid-solid coupling model by using gas film thickness as the transfer parameter between the fluid and solid domain, and the model was solved using the finite difference method and finite element method. The thermal-mechanical deformations of the sealing rings, the influence of face deformation on the flow field and sealing performance were obtained.

Thermal-mechanical deformations cause a convergent gap between the two sealing end faces, resulting in an increase in the gas film thickness, but a decrease in the gas film temperature and sealing ring temperature. The axial relative deformations of rotating and stationary ring end faces caused by mechanical and thermal loads in the two-way coupling model are less than those in the one-way coupling (OWC) model, and the gas film thickness and leakage rate are larger than those in the OWC model, whereas the gas film stiffness is the opposite.

This paper provides a theoretical support and reference for the operational stability and structural optimization design of CO₂ mixture gases DGS under high-pressure and high-speed operation conditions.

This study aims to investigate the dynamic characteristics of a high-speed mechanical seal by considering the flow regime, cavitation phenomenon and inertia effect.

Based on the high-speed conditions of a mechanical seal with a low-viscosity fluid, a multi-factor coupled lubrication model of a mechanical seal is established. The perturbation Reynolds equation set is derived using the perturbation method, and the effects of turbulent flow and inertia on sealing performance are discussed.

The results indicate that turbulence significantly influences the dynamic characteristics of low-viscosity fluids under high-speed conditions.

The results of the dynamic characteristics presented in this study are expected to provide guidance for the design of mechanical seals.

As the crucial support component of the propeller power system, the reliability of the operation of submersible pumps is influenced by the lubrication performance of water-lubricated thrust bearings. When the water-lubricated thrust bearings are under start-stop or heavy load conditions, the effect of surface morphology is crucial as the mixed lubrication regime is encountered. This paper aims to develop one mixed lubrication model for the water-lubricated thrust bearings to predict the effects of surface skewness, kurtosis and roughness orientation on the loading carrying capacity and tribological behavior.

This paper developed one improved mixed lubrication model specifically for the water-lubricated thrust bearing system. In this model, the hydrodynamic model was improved by using the height of the rough surface and its probability density function, combined with the average flow model. The asperity contact model was improved by using the equation for the Pearson system of frequency curves to characterize the non-Gaussian aspect of surface roughness distribution.

According to the results, negative skewness, large kurtosis and lateral surface pattern can improve the tribological performance of water-lubricated thrust bearings. Optimizing the surface morphology is a reasonable design method that can improve the performance of water-lubricated thrust bearings.

In this paper, one mixed lubrication model specifically for the water-lubricated thrust bearing with the effect of surface roughness into consideration was developed. Based on the developed model, the effect of surface morphology on tribological behavior can be evaluated.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2023-0247/

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of different types of textures on the friction lubrication performance of cylindrical roller bearings.

In the present study, the composite texture hydrodynamic lubrication model that takes into account the effects of surface roughness is established, and the Reynolds equation for the oil film is numerically solved using the finite difference method. The study investigates the oil film carrying capacity and maximum pressure of bearings under two different arrangements of four composite textures and conducts a comparative analysis of the oil film characteristics under various texture parameters and surface roughness levels.

When the roughness of the inner texture surface and the contact surface are equal, the bearing capacity of the composite texture is intermediate between the two textures. The impact trend of surface roughness on fluid dynamic pressure effects varies with the type of composite texture; the internal roughness of the texture affects the micro-hydrodynamic pressure action. Composite textures with different depths exhibit improved bearing capacities; elliptical cylindrical parallel and elliptical hemispherical parallel textures perform better when their area densities are similar, while other types of composite textures show enhanced bearing performance as the ratio of their area densities increases.

This paper contributes to the theoretical investigations and analyses on designing the textured rolling bearings with high lubrication performance.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2024-0050

This study aims to enhance the lubrication performance of thrust bearings. The influence of columnar convex–concave compound microtexture on bearing performance is investigated

Based on the compound microtexture model of thrust bearings, considering surface roughness and turbulent effect, the variation of lubrication characteristics with the change in the compound microtexture parameters is studied.

The results indicate that, compared with circular microtexture, the maximum pressure of compound microtexture of thrust bearings increases by 7.42%. Optimal bearing performance is achieved when the internal microtexture depth is 0.02 mm. Turbulent flow states and surface roughness lead to a reduction in the optimal depth. The maximum pressure and load-carrying capacity of the bearing decrease as the initial angle increases, whereas the friction coefficient increases with the increase in the initial angle. The lubrication performance is best for bearings with a circumferential parallel arrangement of microtexture.

The novel composite microtexture with columnar convex-concave is proposed, and the computational model of thrust bearings is set. The influence of surface roughness and turbulent flow on the bearing performance should be considered for better conforming with engineering practice. The effect of microtexture depth, arrangement method and distribution position on the lubrication performance of the compound microtexture thrust bearing is investigated, which is of great significance for improving tribology, thrust bearings and surface microtexture theory.

This paper aims to study the deformation mechanism of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) oil seal under a wide temperature range cycle.

This study categorizes the oil seal operation into three states: assembly, heating-up and cooling. The deformation equation for the oil seal is developed for each state, considering the continuity between them. The investigation of the oil seal’s deformation trends and mechanisms is performed using the ANSYS Workbench.

The assembling process results in a radial shrinkage of the skeleton, causing the centroid to move toward the axis. During heating-up, the outer diameter of the skeleton slightly expands, whereas the inner diameter sharply contracts toward the axis, leading to a further reduction in the centroid’s distance from the axis. Upon cooling, both the inner and outer diameters continue to contract toward the axis, causing the centroid to persist in its movement toward the axis. Consequently, after undergoing a heating-up and cooling cycle ranging from 20°C to 180°C, the outer diameter of the PTFE oil seal reduces by 0.92 mm from its original deformation, ensuring minimal contact between the skeleton and housing. As a result of the reduced static friction torque at the skeleton, the oil seal rotates along the shaft.

The deformation mechanism of PTFE oil seals under a wide temperature range cycle was investigated, aiming to address the concerns related to the rotation along the shaft and leakage.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2023-0142/