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Experimental characterisation of carbon fibre brush seal leakage performance as a function of bristle pack geometrical parameters under dry conditions

Part of: ISABE 2017

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2017

A. Bilal Outirba ,
B. Patrick Hendrick  and
C. Kevin Nicolas
A. Bilal Outirba*
Affiliation:
Université Libre de BruxellesAero-Thermo-Mechanics DepartmentF.-D. Roosevelt avenue n° 501050 Brussels, Belgium
B. Patrick Hendrick
Affiliation:
Université Libre de BruxellesAero-Thermo-Mechanics DepartmentF.-D. Roosevelt avenue n° 501050 Brussels, Belgium
C. Kevin Nicolas
Affiliation:
Safran Aircraft Engines VillarocheRond Point René Ravaud-Réau77550 Moissy-Cramayel, France
*
Bilal.Outirba@ulb.ac.be
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Abstract

Over the last decades, it has been progressively acknowledged that reducing the specific fuel consumption and the emission of pollutants, as well as improving the thrust-to-weight ratio involves extensive research on advanced sealing technologies. Amongst these, brush seals are particularly well considered for their excellent leakage performance, their low friction properties, and their ability to cope with inevitable rotor excursions during flights. This paper presents the experimental work that has been carried on in order to characterise carbon fibre brush seals leakage rate in function of the bristle pack geometry, under different pressure loads and rotational speeds. The analysed parameters are the bristle-free length, the density and the inter-plate distance. The work, performed by the ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) in collaboration with French engine manufacturer Safran Aircraft Engines, highlights specific behaviour of carbon fibre brush seals under differential pressure, proposes a leakage prediction model developed through empirical equations, and discusses over the most influential parameters that influence the air consumption of a brush seal.

Keywords

Brush sealCarbon fibreLeakageLift-offBlow-downModelling
Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 121 , Issue 1245 , November 2017 , pp. 1627 - 1647
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2017 

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Footnotes

This paper was presented at the ISABE 2017 Conference, 3-8 September 2017, Manchester, UK.

References

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