A Mixed Friction Hydrostatic Mechanical Face Seal Model with Thermal Rotation and Wear

A mixed friction model is presented for the mechanical face seal. The model considers load sharing between mechanical and fluid hydrostatic pressures and the friction that results. Thermal rotation resulting from friction heating is included. Equilibrium solutions are presented which show a strong influence of thermal rotation on initial seal performance. A wear model shows that seal faces wear parallel after a period of steady operation in spite of initial taper. The model can be used to simulate seal performance over a period of time and under variable operating conditions.