Novel J-shaped impeller sealing ring for use in pumps: design and validation using simulation – Part 1

The impeller sealing ring in a pump is a critical component that plays an important role in reducing inner flow leakage. The nature of its design is closely related to the volumetric efficiency of the pump. This article provides details of a novel “J-shaped” impeller sealing ring design – in which the clearance length is extended through the use of a special bended structure – and explains its operating principles using fluid mechanics. In addition, a commercial double-suction split-case centrifugal pump is used to validate the new design scheme, and contractive computation results show that it offers a significant advantage in terms of volumetric efficiency, compared with conventional “L-shaped” structures. This work may provide a new, promising impeller sealing ring structure that has broad application in pumps. The first part of this article, which appears here, mainly describes background to the work, and the scheme and principles of the design. The second instalment will be published in the June 2021 issue of Sealing Technology.