Numerical simulation and experimental study of shaft pumping by plunge ground shafts with rotary lip seals

A computational model that will predict the pumping rate, from the air-side to the liquid-side of rotary lip seals, produced by shafts that are manufactured by various techniques has been developed. Plots of computed pumping rate versus shaft speed, for plain plunge ground shafts and for ground shafts with various laser generated groove patterns, agree well with experimental measurements, providing validation of the model. This validated model is then used to investigate the effects of groove angle, groove density, and groove depth on the pumping rate.