Thermal-Mechanical Coupled Finite Element Model and Seal Performance Analysis of Mechanical Seals

Aiming at the contacting mechanical seals, a two-dimensional axisymmetric thermal-mechanical coupled model was established by taking into consideration the coupling relation between the thermal-mechanical deformation, the temperature and the thickness of fluid film. A combined finite element method and iteration strategy were used to solve the physical model. The mechanical-thermal deformation of end faces was investigated as well as the sealing performance under different seal pressures. Numerical results show that a convergent seal gap was formed between the seal rings due to the mechanical-thermal deformation. The minimum film thickness and the maximum temperature rise located at the seal interface near to the inner radius site. With the increase of seal pressures of mechanical seals, the minimum film thickness decreased and the maximum temperature rose, friction torque and leakage rate increased. The numerical model and computational method can be applied to design optimal mechanical seals for the equipment in ocean.