Thermal compression and accumulation effect on lubrication regime transition mechanism of water seal

Research on the thermo-elastic water bearings (TWB) performance is mature, and the temperature effect on bearings lubrication regime transition is studied. The (TWB) lubrication model and numerical simulation of bearings forms the standard. However, the thermal compression and accumulation effect (TCAE) on the water temperature increase from the reciprocating frictional force in a enclosed seal system is ignored. This causes the seal lubrication mechanism and effecting on lifespan factors of TCAE has not been clarified. Thus, we propose the seal working at high pressure with a reciprocating speed of 0.1–0.6 m/s and temperature of 5–25 ℃. Taking the fluid-solid-thermal and wear (FSTW) simulation with measurement reveals the TCAE to seal performance. Results indicate that the seal contact regime increases vastly and the film formation dynamic characterize is hampered due to the TCAE even at the low initial temperature of 5 ℃. The improved insight is that the seal lubrication under TCAE transits obviously from the mixed lubrication to wear regime and degenerates to the elastic-hydraulic lubrication with the speed increasing. The seal lubrication transition mechanism and factors of failure with TCAE is discussed. Moreover, this study of TCAE also builds a framework for thermal models such as mechanical seals, lip seals, and others.