Static and dynamic characteristics of hydrodynamic mechanical seal

For the mechanical seal with spiral groove on its surface applied in the high-speed turbo-pump, a thermal model of the mechanical seal considering leakage and thermal-conduction had been presented. The solutions of static and dynamic characteristics of this type of mechanical seal were introduced. The influences of working parameters on the basic static characteristics such as opening force, leakage and power loss, and the dynamic characteristics such as stiffness and damping were discussed. The results show when the film thickness is less than 5 μm, the rotating speed has great effect on the opening force, stiffness and damping, while it has little effect on leakage. When hydrodynamic mechanical seal works under the thinner film thickness (<3 μm) conditions, the higher power loss and the higher temperature rise are inevitable, but the seal provides higher stiffness and lower leakage.