Search

To investigate the failure mechanism of the magnetic fluid seal (MFS) with opposite pole teeth (OPT) in gas and vacuum environments, a sealing device was designed to directly observe the surface shape of the magnetic fluid film. The failure mechanism and sealing performance of the MFS-OPT in different environments were investigated and discussed with the ordinary MFS. Numerical analysis was conducted to study the magnetic field distribution of the sealing device. The self-healing ability of the MFS-OPT in different environments was investigated. The results indicate that the pressure transfer process of sealing device occurs in a step-by-step manner. When the sealing device fails, it will go through two consecutive stages of microleakage and complete leakage. On the other hand, when the ordinary MFS fails, it first goes through a bubble stage. The magnetic fluid in the sealing device leaks from the middle location of the opposing pole teeth. The sealing device exhibits higher pressure resistance in a gas environment than that in a vacuum environment. Both gas and vacuum environments have a higher pressure resistance for MFS-OPT compared to ordinary MFSs. • The MFS-OPT device can visualize the change of MF film shape. • In the MFS-OPT, the leakage channel occurs in the middle of the opposing PT. • In a gas environment, the gas bubbles are not produced by MF film during failure. • Pressure resistance and self-healing ability of the MFS-OPT are superior to the ordinary MFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel symmetrical embedded magnetic fluid seal (SEMFS) structure was designed with the aim of enhancing the pressure resistance of the magnetic fluid (MF) seal with small gap under vacuum condition. The magnetic field distribution in the sealing gap (SG) was studied by numerical simulation, and the theoretical pressure resistant-withstanding of the SEMFS was obtained by combining the pressure resistance theories of stepped MFS. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of magnetic fluid injection volume (MFIV), number of pole teeth, SG, and rotational speed of the rotating shaft on the seal's pressure resistance. The pressure resistant-withstanding values obtained were compared with those theoretically projected for the (SEMFS) and the ordinary magnetic fluid seal (OMFS), based on numerical analysis. The results indicate that the measured pressure value for the SEMFS matches well with the calculated pressure value. Furthermore, the SEMFS exhibits superior pressure resistance capabilities compared to the OMFS when subjected to the same parameters, which fully reflects the superiority of SEMFS structure. With an augment in the injection volume of MF, the pressure-withstanding performance of the SEMFS exhibits an initial upward trend followed by a gradual stabilization. Moreover, the pressure-withstanding performance of the SEMFS demonstrates a progressive enhancement with an increase in the number of radial pole teeth (RPT) and a corresponding increment in the number of axial pole teeth (APT). The ability to resist pressure of SEMFS decreases as the radial sealing gap (RSG) and axial sealing gap (ASG) increase. At low shaft speeds, the SEMFS's pressure resistance capability is not impacted by rotational speed and can be considered similar to a static seal. • A novel symmetrical embedded magnetic fluid seal structure was designed. • A sealing test bench was designed to conduct experimental studies on the sealing performance. • The symmetrical embedded magnetic fluid seal structure exhibits superior pressure resistance capabilities compared to the traditional sealing structure. • The increase of the magnetic fluid volume will cause the sealing pressure resistance to rise first and then stabilize. • The more the teeth, the smaller the seal gap and the greater the pressure value. The low speed has almost no effect on the pressure resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic fluid seal (MFS) has been widely applied in the vacuum environment, but its pressure transfer mechanism has been less studied. This paper investigates the pressure transfer mechanism of MFS in the vacuum environment by designing an experimental device of MFS mechanism, which can observe the change of liquid film during the pressure transfer. Meanwhile, the pressure transfer mechanism of the designed device in the vacuum environment is compared with the that of MFS in the gas environment. The self-repairing performance of MFS in both vacuum and gas environments is investigated. Based on the MFS theory, the magnetic field distribution of the experimental device is analyzed numerically, and the theoretical pressure resistance is calculated and compared with the experimental value. The results show that the pressure transfer mechanism of MFS in the vacuum environment is similar to that in the gas environment with different forms. The pressure transfer form in the vacuum environment is magnetic fluid liquid film to produce a leakage channel. It is concluded that the self-repairing performance of MFS in the vacuum environment is better than that in the gas environment. • Using a comparative study approach. • The pressure transfer mechanism of MFS in the vacuum environment is similar to that in the gas environment. • The pressure transfer of MFS in the vacuum environment is the form of leakage channels generated in magnetic fluid film. • The self-repairing performance of MFS in the vacuum environment is better than that in the gas environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]