Hydrodynamic Performance of Inclination-dimpled Face Gas Seal

A new type of laser surface texturing gas seal with double-row inclined dimples was introduced to improve hydrodynamic performance. Influence of operating parameters and texturing parameters on open force and leakage was numerically investigated based on a gas lubrication theory. Then, upstream and downstream pumping principles of the inclined dimples were discussed. Results showed that the gas seal with double-row inclined dimples had larger hydrodynamic open force and lower leakage than that with single-row. The reason was that the downstream fluid can be pumped to upstream from the low pressure side along the inclination direction of the dimples. The hydrodynamic performance was determined by the texturing parameters, e.g. opponent texturing proportion, dimple inclination angle, dimple area rate and dimple depth. And optimization of these main texturing parameters was demonstrated.