Maximizing Contacting Filament Seal Performance Retention

Abstract

The initial superior performance of contacting filament seals compared to traditional seals such as labyrinth seals has been well reported in the literature. A challenge that remains for these seals is ensuring that this performance advantage is retained throughout their operating life, especially if there is uncertainty in the operating cycle. In the current paper, a seal model based on generic seal characteristics is used to explore the relationships between these characteristics, the seal performance, and the seal performance retention. Using this approach seal characteristics are identified that result in a seal that performs well and maintains performance for a given operating cycle. In addition it is demonstrated that the performance and performance retention is maintained even if the seal operating conditions are altered significantly, implying that these seals are more robust also.