Identifier

etd-01242007-233119

Degree

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

For industries that use pumps and mixers in their process operations, it is of paramount importance to control the leakage from these equipments. The leakage presents safety hazards and economic loss. It is widely believed that the majority of downtime associated with a pump or a mixer is the result of a mechanical seal failure. Therefore, it is important for these industries to have a mechanical seal that is a reliable performer and enables a longer operational life than what exist in the market at present. The aim of this research was to design and test a mating ring with superior thermal performance that could be used in the conventional seal arrangement without modification to the existing arrangement. The new design was called Fin Mating Ring. The design had radial fins on its circumference and it could replace an existing conventional mating ring without modification to the gland. This thesis contains both an analytical and experimental phases associated with the performance of the new design. Different designs were created and optimized by using Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS). The performances of the new designs are compared with the heat transfer characteristics of the conventional design. Experimental measurements of temperature, flow rates, and pressure in both the new mechanical seal design and the existing conventional seal were performed. Both were tested using the same flow, pressure, rotational velocity and coolant (flush). The test results revealed that the temperatures measured in the new design (Fin Mating Ring) were lower than the conventional ring. Therefore, the fin mating ring design had superior heat transfer characteristic that the existing conventional mating ring. Due to the lower surface temperatures, the fin mating ring design is expected to have a lower wear rate than the conventional ring and sustain a longer seal life.

Date

2006

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Michael M, Khonsari

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.2134

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