Experimental Study of the Thermal Behavior of Mechanical Face Seals
Mechanical seals are frequently used in fluid pumping applications. It basically consists of a rotating ring pressed on a static ring. A mechanical seal generally operates with a very thin film of sealed fluid avoiding wear but leading to a partial contact of asperities. This lubricant film can be highly sheared. The energy dissipated in the contact is transferred to the contiguous elements with respect to the thermal characteristics of the materials and surface exchange with the environment [1]. To study the thermal behavior of mechanical seals, several methods were used. Some authors use mechanical seals with a transparent face for visualization, as in the work of Tournerie et al. [2].