Session: 25-04 Seals

Paper Number: 78289

78289 - Effect of Bristle Diameter on Operational Modal Assessment and Seating Load of Brush Seals 

Brush seal technology is frequently preferred leakage performance system in turbomachinery due to its superior clearance control capability arising from flexible structure of bristles that can compensate rotor transients. Operational modal characteristics of a brush seal is critical for the durability and stability of bristles since they operate under dynamic loadings of pressure fluctuations, flow swirls and bucket tip induced excitations. Pressurized seal modes within the frequency range of turbine operational loadings should be avoided to eliminate the stability related bristle losses and failures. Turbine condition pressure load should also be sufficiently high enough to seat the brush seal with proper contact of bristles to minimize the effect of dynamic loadings. This paper presents details of non-linear finite element analyses of brush seals for the operational modal assessment. Simulations at turbine conditions are conducted by including all interactions and critical seal modes are determined for assessing the risks for stability and durability. Seating load of the design of interest is also identified with the aid of brush seal simulations at turbine conditions. Effect of bristle diameter on the operational modes and seating load of brush seal is analyzed by running set of non-linear finite element simulations for the pressurized seal.    

Presenting Author: Ertugrul Tolga Duran American University of the Middle East

Presenting Author Biography: I have 20+ years of research and industrial experience in CAE and finite element simulations. I worked on finite element modeling techniques of welded structures during my BSc. I developed in-house code for advanced nonlinear simulations for turbine technologies and testing methodologies during my MSc and PhD. I started my professional career in Power Train – CAE team as R&D engineer in Ford Motor Company – Turkey, where I developed methodologies for advanced stress, durability and fatigue analyses for engine and transmission components. I continued in the same company as senior engineer in the durability team, and then assigned to Power Train – NVH supervisor. Following to that, I worked in an R&D company and took the full responsibility and supervision of custom test rig development and establishment of advanced leakage performance systems test facility for turbomachinery. I developed brush seals for more than 100 turbine stages with integration studies. I completed 60+ projects in the field of turbomachinery, aviation engines and automotive industry.

Authors:

Ertugrul Tolga Duran American University of the Middle East