Integrated magnetic components for distributed power conversion
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Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Ramsey, C..
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The predictions of Scharrer's (1988) theory for rotordynamic coefficients of labyrinth gas seals were compared with measurements for a model SSME Alternate Turbopump Development High-Pressure Fuel Turbopump with and without swirl brakes. Using the test apparatus described by Childs et al. (1986, 1990), tests were conducted with supply pressures up to 18.3 bars and speeds up to 16,000 rpm. Seal back pressure was controlled to provide four pressure ratios at all supply pressures. No measurable difference in leakage was detected for the seal with and without the swirl brakes. Comparisons of the measurement results for the seal without a swirl brake with the Scharrer theory showed that the theory can be used only to provide design guidelines; systematic differences were observed between theory and experiment due to changes in running speed, supply pressure, and pressure ratio.
Results are presented from a test program that compares predictions and measurements for a model version of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Alternate Turbopump Development (ATD) High-Pressure Fuel Turbopump (HPFTP), with and without a swirl brake. The tests were conducted in order to establish a degree of confidence in seal calculations for the ATD turbopumps. Test results demonstrate that the proposed swirl brake design is effective in reducing the seal destabilizing forces. Without the swirl brake, the cross-coupled stiffness k increases monotonically with increasing inlet tangential velocity. With the swirl break, k tends to either be constant or decrease with increasing inlet tangential velocity. Comparisons between Scharrer's (1988) theory and measurements for the seal without a swirl brake indicate that the predictions can be used to provide design guidelines only.