Prediction of seal life in an abrasive environment under high pressures using finite elements

A method of performing coal injection using the dry-feed system is considered in this study. The most critical parts of the piston coal feeder assembly are the dry lubricated gas energized seals. Here bronze-filled PTFE seals are considered and the wear, primarily adhesive and abrasive wear, associated with them. A Nastran finite element program has been used to simulate the seal stresses and a wear equation also used. Comparison with test data reveals radial wear rates of the finite element model are of the same order of magnitude as the Ingersoll-Rand wear rates.