To support research into contactless seals, a labyrinth seal test stand is available at the laboratory. It is currently equipped with a 300mm rotor (6000rpm max., working in both directions). The compressed air is provided by a GHH compressor, where an air-water heat exchanger between the two machines ensures constant and controllable thermodynamic entry conditions. The usage of axial and tangential nozzles allows the user to vary the flow in order to generate different inlet conditions. The bearings of the rotor can also be moved in order to achieve different states of eccentricity. Additionally, an orifice is used to allow for mass flow metering, where a variety of equipped pressure taps provide detailed insight into the flow conditions inside the tested seal.

The labyrinth seal test bench fluid flow machinery laboratory

© IET