Sliding Component Sealing Face Dimples Cavitation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical seals with smooth surfaces face leakage issues due to cavitation-induced streak-like fluid flows between sealing faces, which are exacerbated by differential pressures, and existing solutions struggle to prevent leakage effectively across varying pressure levels.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of grooves with directionality in dimples on the sealing faces, acting as geometrical barriers to control the streak-like flow of fluid, combined with continuous grooves communicating with the high-pressure side and symmetrical groove orientation, to manage cavitation and prevent leakage regardless of pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If smooth surfaces are used for sealing faces, then friction is reduced and lubrication is improved, but leakage occurs due to cavitation-induced streak-like fluid flows
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing face is designed with localized dimples containing grooves with directionality, creating different surface qualities in different regions. The grooves act as geometrical barriers in specific areas (cavitation formation areas) while maintaining smooth surfaces elsewhere to reduce friction. This local differentiation allows the sealing face to simultaneously achieve low friction and effective leakage prevention by controlling fluid flow patterns where needed without compromising overall lubrication.
2Reliability
If pumping mechanisms are added to counter pressure difference, then sealing performance improves at low pressure, but leakage increases when pressure difference is large
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful cavitation phenomenon into a beneficial sealing mechanism. Instead of trying to prevent cavitation or pump fluid back against pressure differences, the design allows cavitation to occur in controlled dimple regions and uses the resulting gas-liquid mixture and streak-like flows as part of the sealing mechanism. The grooves with directionality in these cavitation areas control the fluid flow patterns to maintain sealing effectiveness across varying pressure levels without requiring active pumping mechanisms.
3Reliability
If grooves with directionality are provided in cavitation formation areas, then streak-like fluid flow is controlled and leakage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing face is segmented into multiple functional zones: dimples containing grooves with directionality in cavitation formation areas, and continuous grooves in positive pressure areas. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function - the dimpled areas control cavitation-induced flows while the continuous grooves manage positive pressure fluid - thereby achieving effective leakage prevention across different pressure conditions through a modular structure that can be systematically implemented.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively controls the streak-like flow of fluid, preventing leakage across all pressure levels and ensuring the sliding component functions reliably in both forward and reverse rotating directions without the need for component replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a phase constituted by liquid (sealed liquid) (hereinafter referred to as 'liquid phase') and another phase constituted by gas (hereinafter referred to as 'gas phase') are formed between the sealing faces
Data Source
AI summary
To prevent leakage regardless of the level of differential pressure between the inner periphery and outer periphery of the sealing face, the sliding component has dimples provided on one sealing face of a pair of sliding parts that mutually slide relative to each other, and grooves with directionality are provided in a cavitation formation area in each dimple.