Face grooves for state monitoring in dry gas seals

The monitoring of abnormal states of dry gas seals is a critical but challenging task for equipment reliability. This paper proposes an end-face groove structure oriented to the condition monitoring of dry gas seals. In addition to hydrodynamic grooves on the end face of the mating ring, seven special monitoring grooves are manufactured on the other side of the dual end face. These monitoring grooves can induce characteristics of end-face contact that can be detected by an acoustic emission sensor, where the primary characteristic is the seven times the motor speed frequency(7-TMSF). Simulations are conducted using a dynamic model to help establish the monitoring method.