Spline Seal Element

Spline Seal Element General Description & Quick Guide

Spline Seal element routine calculates the Leakage Flowrate across the seal based on the Effective gap.

There are various subtypes/configuration of Spline Seal element available in FlowSimulator. They are

  1. Constant Effective Gap
  2. Chute and Segment Gaps
  3. Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

The Seal elements are available only in Compressible Gas Elements section. The method for calculation of effective area varies based on the subtype of spline seal element chosen.

Spline Seal Element Inputs

Table of the inputs for the Spline Seal Element.

Element Specific Spline Seal Element Input Variables
Index UI Name (. flo label) Description
1 Subtype (SUB_TYPE)

The element subtype controls the spline seal type.

7.0: Constant Effective Gap

8.0: Chute and Segment Gaps

9.0: Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps
4 Length (LENGTH)

Length of the spline seal or seal segment

Used for subtypes 7 & 9

Must be > 0
6 Element Inlet Orientation: Tangential Angle (THETA)

Angle between the element centerline at the entrance of the element and the reference direction.

If the element is rotating or directly connected to one or more rotating elements, the reference direction is defined as parallel to the engine centerline and the angle is the projected angle in the tangential direction. Otherwise, the reference direction is arbitrary but assumed to be the same as the reference direction for all other elements attached to the upstream chamber.

THETA for an element downstream of a plenum chamber has no impact on the solution except to set the default value of THETA_EX.

(See also THETA_EX)
7 Element Inlet Orientation: Radial Angle (PHI)

Angle between the element centerline at the entrance of the element and the THETA direction. (spherical coordinate system)

PHI for an element downstream of a plenum chamber has no impact on the solution except to set the default value of PHI_EX.

(See also PHI_EX)

8

9

10

Exit K Loss:

Axial (K_EXIT_Z)

Tangential (K_EXIT_U)

Radial (K_EXIT_R)

Head loss factors in the Z, U, and R directions based on the spherical coordinate system of theta and phi. (Default value provides no loss).

Refer General solver theory sections for more details about this input
11 Portion of Ustrm Chamb. Dyn. Head Lost (DQ_IN) Inlet dynamic head loss. Refer General solver theory sections for more details about this input
12 Heat Input (QIN)

Heat input. QIN is heat added to (positive values) or removed from (negative) the fluid flowing through the orifice.

In cases where multiple flow streams are modelled by a single element (i.e. NED and NLU not equal to 1), the value of QIN should be set to model the heat flow from only one of the restrictions.
13 Effective Gap (EFF_GAP)

Effective Gap of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 7 & 9

Must be >= 0
16 Segment Gap (SEG_GAP)

Segment Gap of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0
17 Unprotected Length (UNP_LENGTH)

Unprotected Length of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0
18 Groove Depth (GRV_DEPTH)

Groove Depth of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0
19 Groove Width (GRV_WDTH)

Groove Width of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0
20 Spline Thickness (SPL_WDTH)

Spline Width of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0
21 Spline Thickness (SPL_THK)

Spline Thickness of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0
22 Chute Area Multiplier (CHUTE_M)

Chute Area Multiplier of the spline seal

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0
23 Discharge Coefficient (CD_G_AND_C)

Discharge coefficient of Chute Area

Used for subtypes 8-9

Must be >= 0

Spline Seal Element Theory Manual

Nomenclature:  
W: Mass flow rate Specific heat Ratio
A: Effective area R: Gas Constant
Tt: Total Temperature gc: Gravitational Constant
Pt: Total pressure
Ps: Static pressure
MN: Vena Contracta Mach Number
Subscripts:  
up: Upstream station dn: Downstream station

Calculation of Seal Flow Rate

Calculation of EFFECTIVE AREA (SUBTYPES 7-9)

Constant Effective Gap

Chutes and Segment Gaps

Constant Effective Gap & Chutes and Segment Gaps

Additional Momentum Loss

For Additional Momentum loss, Portion of Upstream Dynamic Head loss, Exit K Loss refer Solver General theory section.

Spline Seal Element Outputs

The following listing provides details about Spline Seal element output variables.

This table provides details about the output variables specific to the following spline seal subtypes (7-9):

Name Description Units
CHUTE_A

Chute Area of the spline seal

Spline Seal Types:

  • Chutes and Segment Gaps
  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

CHUTE_A = ((CHUTE_LENGTH * GROOVE_WIDTH) – (SPLINE_THICK * SPLINE_WIDTH)) * CHUTE_MULT

Where:

CHUTE_LENGTH = (2 * GROOVE_DEPTH) + SEGMENT_GAP

 inch2, m2
END_GAP_A

End Gap Area of the spline seal

Spline Seal Types:

  • Chutes and Segment Gaps
  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

END_GAP_A = SEGMENT_GAP * UNP_LENGTH

 inch2, m2
CD_G_AND_C

Discharge coefficient of Chute Area

Spline Seal Types:

  • Chutes and Segment Gaps
  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

(An echo of the user input)

 (fraction)
LEAKAGE_A

Leakage Area of the spline seal

Spline Seal Types:

  • Chutes and Segment Gaps
  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

LEAKAGE_A = END_GAP_A + (CHUTE_A * CD_G_AND_C)

 inch2, m2
GAP_EFF

Effective Gap of the spline seal

Spline Seal Types:

  • Constant Effective Gap
  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

(An echo of the user input EFF_GAP)

 inch, mm
LENGTH

Length of the spline seal

Spline Seal Types:

  • Constant Effective Gap
  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

(An echo of the user input)

 inch, mm
GAP_AREA

Gap Area of the spline seal

Spline Seal Types:

  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps

GAP_AREA = GAP_EFF * LENGTH

inch2, m2
EFFECTIVE_AREA or TOTAL_EFF_AREA

Total effective area of the spline seal.

(Definition varies based on spline seal type chosen)

Spline Seal Types:

  • Constant Effective Gap
    • EFFECTIVE_AREA = GAP_EFF * LENGTH
  • Chutes and Segment Gaps
    • Not displayed, use LEAKAGE_A
  • Const. Eff., Chute & Segment Gaps
    • TOTAL_EFF_AREA = LEAKAGE_A + GAP_AREA
 inch2, m2

This table provides details about the output variables common to all spline seal types:

Name Description Units
PTS Driving pressure relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction inlet. psi, mPa
PTEX Total pressure relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction exit including supersonic effects. psi, mPa
PSEX

Static pressure relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction exit.

Limited by critical pressure ratio for supersonic flows.

 psi, mPa
PSEB Effective sink (static) pressure downstream of the restriction. psi, mPa
TTS Total temperature of fluid relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction inlet. deg F, K
VCMN Fluid Mach number relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the vena contracta. (unitless)
VXA Fluid velocity relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction exit before heat input (QIN) effects. ft/s, m/s
EXMN Fluid Mach number relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction exit before heat input (QIN) effects. (unitless)
QIN

Heat input.

Positive values indicate heat added to the fluid; negative values indicate heat removed.

 BTU/s, W
DT Change in total temperature relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) due to heat input (QIN). deg F, K
TEX Total temperature relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction exit. deg F, K
VEX Fluid velocity relative to the rotational reference frame (i.e. rotor) at the restriction exit including heat input (QIN) effects. ft/s, m/s