Oil-Sealing Performance Evaluation of Labyrinth Seal Using Combined Finite Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Mechanical seals, such as labyrinth seals, are typically installed at the turbine outlets to prevent oil leakage. However, these seals undergo deformation because of the vibrations of the rotor, even during normal turbine operating conditions, which may cause an increase in oil leakage. In this study, the oil leakage performance of three labyrinth seals with different types of seal teeth, narrow stainless teeth (Type 1), wide aluminum teeth fixed on the body (Type 2), and fixed wide aluminum movable teeth (Type 3), were evaluated using finite element (FE) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses. Three-dimensional FE models of the rotor and oil deflectors were developed, and the plastic deformation of the teeth of the labyrinth seals was predicted when the rotor impacted the sealing teeth during turbine operation. The oil leakage was predicted using CFD analysis. The results indicated that the Type 3 seal, including movable teeth, is beneficial in preventing leakage and tooth deformation compared with the other types. The Type 2 seal is advantageous because it results in a smaller increase in gap size and greater vena contracta effects than the Type 1 seal. The results of this study could be helpful when designing and selecting the teeth of a labyrinth seal.