<p>Demanding of multiphase pumps introduces new challenges to the design of pumps. To avoid machine failures, the performance of the pump seal under multiphase conditions needs to be studied. The air addition into the oil flow not only changes the properties of the fluid, but also changes the status of the flow within the seal clearance. The flow status can significantly change the performance of the pump seal and thereby impact the pump vibration performance. In the seal clearance, the axial direction flow is dominated by the pressure drop through the seal and can be considered as a Poiseuille flow. The circumferential direction flow is driven by the rotor rotation and can be considered as a Couette flow. The regime of the flow in the seal clearance is controlled by the axial Reynolds number and the circumferential Reynolds number. Published test results on the boundaries between the laminar flow regime, transitional flow regime, and fully developed turbulent flow regime within an annular seal are scant. This paper will first draw these boundaries based on the test data for long smooth pump seals. Then, this paper will show the performance of the long smooth pump seal under different flow regimes. Predictions will also be presented to compare with test results.</p>

Performance of a Long Smooth Pump Seal Under Different Flow Regimes

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/GT/GT2021/volume/84898

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