Comparative analysis of Silicon carbide labyrinth seal with chromium molybdenum labyrinth seal by using ANSYS for replacement in gland sealing of steam turbine

H.G.PATIL; V.G. ARAJPURE

Volume : VI, Issue : II, February - 2016

Comparative analysis of Silicon carbide labyrinth seal with chromium molybdenum labyrinth seal by using ANSYS for replacement in gland sealing of steam turbine

H. G. Patil, V. G. Arajpure

Abstract :

The performance of steam turbine seal is related to many factors. One of the important factors is the degradation and change in turbine seal tooth profile after many hours of operation. This leads to increased flow losses and hence reduction in overall turbine efficiency. The performance of turbine seal can be predicated and improved by using ANSYS. ANSYS is becoming a very important tool for designer engineer and research in improving the performance of component involving steam flows. The reason is that ANSYS effectively replaces the needs to perform expensive experimental measurement and testing of new design and prototype. This study conducts analysis and clearance on the leakage behavior of labyrinth seals. Both ANSYS and an analytical tool were used to predict the leakage flows of two different materials seal configuration with various thermal stress analysis. The advantages of the Silicon carbide labyrinth seal over the chromium molybdenum labyrinth seal become more evident as the clearance gets larger. As the clearance becomes sufficiently small, the advantages of the Silicon carbide labyrinth seal clearances become evident and they reduce steam losses and improved turbine efficiency.