Numerical analysis of the sealing performance of deep cryogenic gaskets in propellant pipeline systems
CAI Kunpeng1, ZANG Xiaobei1, CHEN Shengshan2, GUO Fei2
1. State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil, China University of Petroleum(East China), Qingdao 266580, China; 2. State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Abstract：[Objective] The single-shot arrow tube valve system has over a hundred locations where effective sealing is essential. Under extreme operating conditions, such as frequent alternation between deep low temperatures and ambient temperatures, pressure fluctuations within the pipes, and turbulent flow fields, the sealing surfaces are prone to contact deformation due to excessive localized stresses. Consequently, it becomes challenging to maintain an appropriate sealing contact pressure, rendering the conventional gasket sealing model inadequate and considerably reducing the sealing reliability. Furthermore, deep low temperatures can alter the flow characteristics of the sealing medium, altering its flow properties inside the microscopic leakage channels. Further, the mechanical properties of gasket sealing materials vary with temperature, resulting in leakage rates exceeding acceptable levels in low-temperature environments for step gasket structures that are deemed suitable for ambient temperatures. [Methods] To address the sealing leakage issue in carrier rockets during service under conventional and extreme conditions, a method for predicting the sealing performance of the deep low-temperature joint-connection system is proposed. First, finite element simulation software is used to analyze the Mises stress under different operating conditions and conduct interface mechanical analysis of the sealing contact areas to determine the macroscopic contact pressure of the sealing interface. Subsequently, a three-dimensional white light interferometer is used to study the sealing contact interface, and the obtained rough surface topography is converted into a digital representation by numerical methods. By combining the contact pressure distribution obtained from the simulation, the microcontact surface topography is determined using the fast Fourier transform algorithm, followed by the determination of the average height of the leakage channel. Considering the flow characteristics of the medium, a grid model is employed to construct a leakage rate quantifying model. Consequently, the leakage rate is established as the criterion for evaluating the sealing performance. [Results] The influence of different parameters, such as temperature, load, and medium pressure, on gasket sealing performance was studied through numerical calculation methods. As the temperature decreased, materials gradually harden, resulting in reduced compression of gaskets under the same load at 20 K. Additionally, joints and nozzle inlets experience structural dimensional changes caused by the temperature decrease, which was one of the reasons for increased leakage rates at deep cryogenic temperatures. When the load remained constant and the operating temperature was 20 K, the medium pressure did not significantly affect the overall trend of the contact pressure curve, but it had a notable impact on the regions subjected to medium-pressure loading. Simultaneously, by simplifying the joint-connection system structure, a reusable and convenient experimental fixture was designed for the measurement test of gasket sealing leakage rates under different loads. [Conclusions] The proposed numerical method comprehensively considers the influence of gasket mechanical properties, surface topography micro-parameters, medium pressure, and torque load on gasket sealing performance, introducing a approach using leakage rate as an evaluation metric. The results demonstrate that the simulated leakage rates are of the same order of magnitude as the experimental values, exhibiting a high level of agreement. This study provides valuable guidance for the optimization of joint-connection gasket sealing design and its practical applications.
蔡鲲鹏, 臧晓蓓, 陈升山, 郭飞. 推进剂管路系统深低温垫片密封性能数值分析[J]. 清华大学学报（自然科学版）, 2024, 64(3): 578-590.
CAI Kunpeng, ZANG Xiaobei, CHEN Shengshan, GUO Fei. Numerical analysis of the sealing performance of deep cryogenic gaskets in propellant pipeline systems. Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology), 2024, 64(3): 578-590.
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2024, Vol. 64 
