Application of brush seal technology in modern turbomachines

Aerospace propulsion engineering


Аuthors

Pugachev A. O.*, Ravikovich Y. A.**

Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), 4, Volokolamskoe shosse, Moscow, А-80, GSP-3, 125993, Russia

*e-mail: pugachev@tum.de
**e-mail: yurav@mai.ru, yr@mai.ru

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of brush seal technology applications in modern turbomachinery. The brush seal designs, their advantages and disadvantages are described and discussed. Brush seals show a superior leakage performance comparing with conventional labyrinth seals. However, due to the presence of moving elastic elements the brush seal behavior is very complex. The performance characteristics of brush seals can largely depend on the geometric parameters, mechanical and aerodynamic state of the sealing unit. Proper design and application of the brush seals allow to limit the wear of fibers. The impact of brush seals on the rotor dynamics of the turbomachine is one of the key considerations with very limited data available. A small number of lab-scale experimental studies have demonstrated overall improved rotor dynamics coefficients in comparison with the labyrinth seals. However, the field experience has shown both positive as well as negative influence of brush seals on rotor dynamics. Using aramid fiber with smaller diameter than the metallic wire can further reduce leakage through the brush seal. The main problems with aramid fiber brush seals are limited temperature operating range and structural stiffness. In spite of some problems, the brush seal technology has been successfully applied abroad in air-breathing engines, and also in the industrial gas and steam turbines. Detailed studies are presently carried out for better understanding variousphenomena occurring in brush seals and for solving experiencing problems. Several attempts to apply brush seal technology have been taken also in Russia with only limited positive outcome. Therefore, more investigations are needed for faster deployment of this novel sealing technology.

Keywords:

brush seal, leakage, dynamics characteristics, turbomachinery

References

  1. Aksit M.F., Chupp R.E., Dinc S.D., Demiroglu M. Advanced seals for industrial turbine applications: Dynamic seal development, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2002, vol. 18, pp. 1260-1266.
  2. Arora G.K., Proctor M.P. JTAGG II brush seal test results, Proceedings of the 33rd Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 1997, NASA TM 107448.
  3. Berard G., Short J. Influence of design features on brush seal performance, Proceedings of the 35th AIAA/ASME/ SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, 1999, Paper AIAA 99-2685.
  4. Braun M.J., Hendricks R.C., Canacci V. Flow visualization in a simulated brush seal, Proceedings of the ASME Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, 1990, Paper 90-GT-217.
  5. Crudgington P., Bowsher A., Lloyd D., Walia J. Bristle angle effects on brush seal contact pressure, Proceedings of the 45th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 2009, Paper AIAA 2009-5168.
  6. Chupp R.E., and Dowler C.A. Performance characteristics of brush seals for limited-life gas turbine engines, ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 1993, vol. 115, pp. 390-396.
  7. Conner K.J., Childs D.W. Rotordynamic coefficient test results for a four-stage brush seal, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 1993, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 462-465.
  8. Deckner M. Eigenschaften kombinierter Labyrinth-Burstendichtungen fur Turbomaschinen, Doctoral thesis, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Germany, 2010.
  9. Demiroglu M., Gursoy M., Tichy J.A. An investigation of tip force characteristics of brush seals, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2007, Paper GT2007-28042.
  10. Demiroglu M., Tichy J.A. An investigation of heat generation characteristics of brush seals, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2007, Paper GT2007-28043.
  11. Neef M., Sulda E., Suerken N., Walkenhorst, J. Design features and performance details of brush seals for turbine applications, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2006, Paper GT2006-90404.
  12. Chen L.H., Wood P.E., Jones T.V., Chew J.W. Detailed experimental studies of flow in large scale brush seal model and a comparison with CFD predictions, ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 2000, vol. 122, pp. 672-679.
  13. Ferguson J.G. Brushes as high performance gas turbine seals, Proceedings of the ASME Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, 1988, Paper 88-GT-182.
  14. Franceschini G., Jones T.V., Gillespie D.R.H. Improved understanding of blow-down in filament seals, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2008, Paper GT2008-51197.
  15. Helm P., Pugachev A.O., Neef M. Breaking the swirl with brush seals - numerical modeling and experimental evidence, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2008, Paper GT2008-50257.
  16. Basu P., Datta A., Johnson R., Loewenthal R., Short J. Hysteresis and bristle stiffening effects in brush seals, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 1994, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 569-575.
  17. Pastrana R.M., Wolfe C.E., Turnquist N.A., Burnett M.E. Improved steam turbine leakage control with a brush seal design, Proceedings of the 30th Turbomachinery Symposium, 2001, pp. 33-38.
  18. Osterhage T. Buescher S., Kosyna G., Glienicke J., Urlichs K. Multiple row brush seal testing for steam turbine applications with high temperature and high pressure conditions and long service intervals, Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Turbomachinery, 2005, Paper 096 05/57.
  19. Pfefferle D., Dullenkopf K., Bauer H.-J. Design and validation of a new test rig for brush seal testing under engine relevant conditions, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2011, Paper GT2011-45107.
  20. Hendricks R.C., Griffin T.A., Kline T.R., Csavina K.R., Pancholi A., Sood D. Relative comparison between baseline labyrinth and dual-brush compressor discharge seals in a T-700 engine test, Proceedings of the 39th International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, 1994, NASA TM 106360.
  21. Ruggiero E.J., Allen J., Lusted M. Experimental testing techniques for Kevlar fiber brush seals, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2009, Paper GT2009-60172.
  22. Ruggiero E.J. Experimental results from a sensor brush seal, Proceedings of the 46th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 2010, Paper AIAA2010-6830.
  23. Ruggiero E.J. Influence of friction on the blow-down behavior of an aramid fiber brush seal, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2012, Paper GT2012-69329.
  24. Schwarz H., Kosyna G., Flegler J. Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur radialen Adaptivitaet von Buerstendichtungen fuer Dampfturbinen, Proceedings of VGB Conference on Steam Turbines and Operation of Steam Turbines, 2010, Paper V11.
  25. Schwarz H., Friedrichs J., Flegler J. Design parameters of brush seals and their impact on seal performance, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2012, Paper GT2012-68956.
  26. Stango R.J., Zhao H., Shia C.Y. Analysis of contact mechanics for rotor bristle interference of brush seal, ASME J. Tribology, 2003, vol. 125, pp. 414-421.
  27. Bidkar R.A., Demiroglu M., Zheng X., Turnquist N. Stiffness measurement for pressure-loaded brush seals, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2011, Paper GT2011-45399.
  28. Flouros M., Stadlbauer M., Cottier F., Proestler S., Beichl S. Transient temperature measurements in the contact zone between brush seals of Kevlar and metallic type for bearing chamber sealing using a pyrometric technique, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo, 2012, Paper GT2012-68354.
  29. Zorn P. Untersuchung von Buerstendichtungen fuer die Anwendung in Dampfturbinen, Doctoral thesis, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Germany, 2012.
  30. Belousov A.I., Zrelov V.A., Popov A.I. Trudy VI nauchno-tekhnicheskoi konferentsii «Uplotneniya i vibratsionnaya nadezhnost tsentrobezhnykh mashin», Sumy, 1991.
  31. Gorelov G.M., Reznik V.E., Tsibizov V.I. Izvestiya Vuzov. Aviatsionnaya tekhnika, 1988, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 43-46.
  32. Kryukov A.I. Nekotorye voprosy proektirovaniya GTD (On the design of gas turbine engines), Moscow, MAI, 1993, 336 p.
  33. Rublevskii Yu.V., Dotsenko V.N. Visnik Natsionalnogo tekhnichnogo universitetu «Kharkivskii politekhnichnii institut». Energetichni ta teplotekhnichni protsesi i ustatkuvannya, 2012, no. 8, pp. 45-49.
  34. Peichev G.I., Kondratyuk E.V., Zilichikhis S.D., Grebennikov M.A., Khizhnyak S.I., Kaminskaya L.L. Visnik dvigunobuduvannya, 2009, no. 1, pp. 66-70.
  35. Falaleev S.V., Zrelov, V.V. Izvestiya Samarskogo nauchnogo tsentra Rossiiskoi akademii nauk, 2009, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 192-196.

mai.ru — informational site of MAI

Copyright © 1994-2024 by MAI