A new type of labyrinth gas seal for damping vibration and whirl, called the TAMSEAL, has been evaluated in both nonrotating and rotating tests at Texas A&M University. Test results of the prototype, along with comparison tests of a conventional labyrinth seal, show up to 100 times more direct damping than the conventional bladed seal. The new design also has a feature that blocks swirl of the working fluid, which is known to be rotordynamically destabilizing in machines with conventional seals. Coastdown tests of the new seal were conducted at various pressures on a rotordynamic test apparatus with a critical speed at 4000 rpm and compared with identical testing of a conventional labyrinth seal. Rap tests of both seals were also conducted to measure the logarithmic decrement of free vibration, and the leakage of both seals was measured. Test results show large reductions in peak vibration at the critical speed in all cases, with the critical speed being completely eliminated by the TAMSEAL at some pressure drop conditions. The leakage rate of the tested TAMSEAL is higher than the conventional seal at the same clearance, but the large reductions in vibration and whirl amplitudes suggest that the TAMSEAL could be operated with smaller clearances than conventional labyrinth seals.
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October 1996
Research Papers
Test Results of a New Damper Seal for Vibration Reduction in Turbomachinery
J. M. Vance,
J. M. Vance
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
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J. Li
J. Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
Search for other works by this author on:
J. M. Vance
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
J. Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Oct 1996, 118(4): 843-846 (4 pages)
Published Online: October 1, 1996
Article history
Received:
February 11, 1995
Online:
November 19, 2007
Citation
Vance, J. M., and Li, J. (October 1, 1996). "Test Results of a New Damper Seal for Vibration Reduction in Turbomachinery." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. October 1996; 118(4): 843–846. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2817004
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