Simulation and theoretical studies on the influence of removable panel deformation on the seal characteristics of ceramic wafer seal

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of geometric parameters of removable panels on the sealing characteristics of ceramic wafer seal structure subjected to high-temperature gas flow. Design/methodology/approach Based on the laminar flow Reynolds equation, the theoretical and numerical calculation models were constructed to investigate the influence of external convex deformation of removable panel on leakage rate. The theoretical formula for leakage rate after deformation of the removable panel was derived, and the flow field and leakage characteristics of ceramic wafer seal under different operating parameters were studied. Findings The leakage rate exhibits consistent trends between theoretical calculation, numerical simulation and experimental value, with a maximum discrepancy of 8.9%. This validates the accuracy of both the theoretical model and numerical simulation. As the deformation angle of the removable panel increases, the sealing gap gradually widens, resulting in a compromised sealing effect. Moreover, the leakage rate in the central region of the sealing area is lower compared to that at both ends. Originality/value The leakage of the ceramic wafer seal structure under the removable panel with different deformation angles can be monitored based on Reynolds equation. The pseudo-transient numerical calculation method can be used to determine the leakage value of the micro-state ceramic wafer seal structure. These research findings provide a theoretical foundation and numerical investigation approach for studying ceramic wafer seal structures.