Topology optimization of labyrinth seals for CO2 compressor application

• Grant number: 18/11474-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Design
• Agreement: BG E&P Brasil (Shell Group)
• Principal Investigator: Emílio Carlos Nelli Silva
• Grantee: Shahin Ranjbarzadeh
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50279-4 - Brasil Research Centre for Gas Innovation, AP.PCPE

Abstract

Uncontrolled CO2 emissions can have a great influence on the climate impacts. The emission occurs in a variety of ways; such as leakage from mechanical seals on compressors, turbines, and also from pneumatic devices, which are designed to vent gas as part of the operation. The Studies show that the major emission sources are related to pneumatic devices/pumps and equipment leaks, accounting for approximately 60% of emissions. In the quest to reduce the climate effects caused by CO2 emissions, the improvement of the Labyrinth Seals in multi-stage pumps, and compressors used for the transportation and injection of CO2 becomes a necessity. The present work begins with a summary of Labyrinth Seals, widely used in gas and pneumatic turbines, and which are a great solution for sealing on rotating parts subjected to high temperature, followed by presenting Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites (IPMCs) a subcategory of smart polymers. Finally, it will describe the idea of Topology Optimization and its application for improvement of smart Labyrinth Seals based on IPMCs. The concept of labyrinth seals is essentially a series of extended surfaces forming chambers between an axis and a fixed bearing, which causes turbulence in the fluid which inhibits its leakage. The design of Labyrinth Seals is complex because of a large number of parameters that can be altered. In order to design of the Labyrinth Seals for the best efficiency, we will provide IPMCs cilia as a Labyrinth tooth to improve the performance. Due to large deformation, low voltage actuation and low weight properties of IPMCs, it is a promising candidate for applications in Labyrinth Seals of CO2 Compressors in order reduce CO2 leakage. The study will be conducted using the Topology Optimization Method (TOM) combined with the controlled deformation of IPMCs for fluid manipulation and different analysis techniques. Numerical analysis of Fluid-IPMCs cilia interaction will be carried on commercial Multiphysics Comsol. Finally, by combining of Fluid-IPMCs interaction formulation and TOM, a smart Labyrinth Seals will be developed and presented. In order to couple the topology optimization module with Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) problems, a weak form constraint will be generated. In this way, it will be possible to investigate all the key parameters in the design of the smart labyrinth seals.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARUM, VICTOR JORGE DE OLIVEIRA; REIS, LIVIA BUENO; MAFFEI, FELIPE SILVA; RANJBARZADEH, SHAHIN; KORKISCHKO, IVAN; GIORIA, RAFAEL DOS SANTOS; MENEGHINI, JULIO ROMANO. Performance analysis of a water ejector using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and mathematical modeling. ENERGY, v. 220, APR 1 2021. (18/11474-7, 14/50279-4, 19/05197-3, 16/12397-0)

MOSCATELLI, EDUARDO; DE SA, LUIS FERNANDO NOGUEIRA; RANJBARZADEH, SHAHIN; PICELLI, RENATO; GIORIA, RAFAEL DOS SANTOS; SILVA, EMILIO CARLOS NELLI. Hybrid geometry trimming algorithm based on Integer Linear Programming for fluid flow topology optimization. COMPUTERS & FLUIDS, v. 244, p. 14-pg., 2022-06-30. (14/50279-4, 19/01685-3, 18/05797-8, 18/11474-7, 21/02340-0, 13/24434-0, 20/15230-5)

SOUZA, B. C.; YAMABE, P. V. M.; SA, L. F. N.; RANJBARZADEH, S.; PICELLI, R.; SILVA, E. C. N.. Topology optimization of fluid flow by using Integer Linear Programming. STRUCTURAL AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY OPTIMIZATION, v. 64, n. 3, p. 1221-1240, SEP 2021. (18/05797-8, 14/50279-4, 18/11474-7, 19/01685-3)

RANJBARZADEH, S.; PICELLI, R.; GIORIA, R.; SILVA, E. C. N.. Topology optimization of structures subject to non-Newtonian fluid-structure interaction loads using integer linear programming. FINITE ELEMENTS IN ANALYSIS AND DESIGN, v. 202, p. 21-pg., 2022-05-01. (19/01685-3, 18/05797-8, 14/50279-4, 18/11474-7)