Prediction of Incompressible Flow in Labyrinth Seals

Abstract

A new approach was developed and tested for alleviating the substantial convergence difficulty which results from implementation of the QUICK differencing scheme into a TEACH-type computer code. It is relatively simple, and the resulting CPU time and number of numerical iterations required to obtain a solution compare favorably with a previously recommended method. This approach has been employed in developing a computer code for calculating the pressure drop for a specified incompressible flow leakage rate in a labyrinth seal. The numerical model is widely applicable and does not require an estimate of the kinetic energy carry-over coefficient for example, whose value is often uncertain. Good agreement with measurements is demonstrated for both straight-through and stepped labyrinths. These new detailed results are examined, and several suggestions are offered for the advancement of simple analytical leakage as well as rotordynamic stability models.