INFLUENCE ON THE LEAKAGE FLOW RATE OF THE STATIONARY SEAL RING SHAPE OF THE MECHANICAL SEAL SYSTEMS USED IN FEED PUMPS IN THE POWER PLANTS

The tendency to use high-capacity pumps especially in power plants raised the need to reduce the leakage flow rate of the mechanical seals and to increase their lifetime. During this study the influence of the geometric shape of the stationary seal ring under the action of the axial forces on the leakage flow rate between the active front surfaces was investigated. Hydrostatic and hydrodynamic measurements were carried out in order to confirm the results.