Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study on Magnetorheological Fluid Seals With Flexible Pole Pieces

Abstract

Magnetorheological fluid seal and brush seal are both successful sealing forms. To address problems such as pole pieces colliding with spindles, precise sealing clearance in magnetic fluid seals and inevitable leakage in brush seals, this paper combines advantages of magnetic fluid seal and brush seal and proposed a magnetorheological fluid seal with flexible pole pieces. The magnetic field of the seal was estimated using the finite-element method and the seal capacity was studied in theory. Single structural parameters of the seal that affect sealing capacity, such as the relative permeability and thickness were discussed. The combined effects of various structural parameters were analyzed. The results show that increase in the relative permeability and length of flexible pole pieces leads to the enhancement of the seal capacity; The thickness of the flexible magnetic pole piece, the magnetic part of the flap and coating are inversely proportional to the sealing pressure value. The experimentally obtained seal capacity agrees with the value calculated through the simulation. This paper presents a structure of magnetorheological fluid seal and comparative results of the seal capacity obtained from both experimental studies and numerical simulation calculations.