Experimental and CFD investigations of carbon/SS316 mechanical face seals under different lubricating conditions

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test mechanical face seals made of carbon/SS316 with different coolants for evaluating its tribological performance. The reliability of a mechanical seal mainly depends on the seal materials and the type of coolant used for the lubrication. Design/methodology/approach – Compressed air, vacuum and nitrogen are the main coolants utilized for the experimental work, and the obtained results are compared with the dry running case for a specified period. The experimental results are also validated with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results. Findings – The results shows that the sealing pressure, sliding speed and materials used would be the predominant factors for the seal design. Over compressed air, vacuum and nitrogen cooling techniques were found to be more efficient. Originality/value – The experimental results are also validated with the CFD simulation results. This paper also emphasizes the usage of vacuum as a cooling medium in industries, which will enhance the seal life at an economical cost over nitrogen.