Numerical analysis of T-groove dry gas seal with orientation texture at the groove bottom

The influences of groove bottom texture, in the form of orientation structure with various width, depth, spacing, and different operation parameters, on orientation effect have been investigated by numerical analysis. The results show that the existence of texture and the change of direction have strong impacts on the orientation effect, and opening force and leakage increase due to the effect. The increment in the opening force and leakage is more remarkable when film thickness is small and the shaft speed or medium pressure is high. The orientation texture makes the performance of dry gas seal more stable, which is more significant for extreme working conditions. An optimal texture model was built and an efficient and cost-saving method of laser surface processing for the orientation texture was put forward.