Heat transfer correlations for laminar flows within a mechanical seal chamber

Numerical investigation of conjugate heat transfer associated with laminar flow within the chamber of a mechanical seal is presented. It involves simultaneous solution of the Navier–Stokes and energy equations. The computational model takes into account the temperature distribution within the rotating and stationary rings. A series of simulation results are presented for predicting the performance of a mechanical seal assuming that the flow in the seal chamber remains laminar. Expressions are developed for predicting the convective heat transfer coefficient on the outer surfaces of the seal rings exposed to the process fluid in the seal chamber.