A study of a magnetic fluid seal for a reciprocating inlet

V. G. Bashtovoi - V. S. Dashkevich - M. S. Krakov - A. M. Savost'yanov - V. A. Chernobai

Abstract
The effect of magnetic fluid viscosity and of ferrofluidic sealing device parameters upon the friction force at a reciprocating motion of a nonmagnetic cylinder in the gap to be sealed has been studied. In order to exclude the influence of magnetic fluid structure formation on the viscous friction type, we proposed to orientate the magnetic field in the gap parallel to the axis and the velocity vector. A ferrofluidic sealing device for a cylinder with a diameter of 50 mm, velocity of 10⁻³ m/s, pressure difference not less than 3 kPa at the viscous friction force not larger than 0.5·10⁻³ N has been designed. A mathematical model for the calculation of characteristics of hydrodynamical processes in the sealing device gap has been proposed. Figs 5, refs 3.