FINITE-ELEMENT THERMOHYDRODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF 2-LOBE OIL SEALS USED IN HIGH-PRESSURE CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS

This paper presents a finite element solution of the nonlinear and cou pled hydrodynamic and thermal equations for pressure and temperature d istributions in two-lobe oil seals. The pressure distribution is integ rated to obtain hydrodynamic forces. TFR perturbation technique is use d to determine the static and dynamic characteristics of the oil seal. Eigenvalue analysis is performed for the linear stability analysis of the compressor rotor Results in terms of pressure and temperature dis tributions, stiffness and damping characteristics, leakage, growth fac tors and damped natural frequencies are presented for both cylindrical and two-lobe oil seals operating at different eccentricities.