A study of magnetic fluid seals for underwater robotic vehicles

Issue title: Selected Papers from the 14th International Symposium on Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics (ISEM 2009), Part I

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kim, Dae-Young^a | Bae, Hyung-Sub^a | Park, Myeong-Kwan^{a; *} | Yu, Son-Cheol^b | Yun, Young-Sool^c | Cho, C. Peter^d | Yamane, Ryuichiro^e

Affiliations: [a] Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea | [b] School of Environment Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, South Korea | [c] Hanjin Industry Co. LTD., Habuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | [d] Power & Energy, Machinery, Materials, Power Electronics/Systems U.S. Office of Naval Research Global-Asia, 7-23-17 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan | [e] Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kokushikan University, Tokyo, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Tel.: +82 51 510 2464; Fax: +82 51 514 0685; E-mail: mkpark1@pusan.ac.kr

Abstract: Underwater robotic vehicles (URVs) normally use mechanical seals with o-rings, rubber boots, PTFE or Grafoil wedges, or V-rings. Because mechanical seals can cause an unexpected malfunction, we try to adapt magnetic fluid seal (MFS) for underwater robotic vehicles. For reliable design of the MFS, we use numerical simulation of the flow in the MFS using finite element method. The results obtained from experimental investigations of the operation of the MFS contacting with pressurized water will be compared to numerical simulation results

Keywords: Ferrofluid, magnetic fluid seal (MFS), finite element method, underwater robotic vehicles (URVs)

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2010-1195

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 33, no. 1-2, pp. 857-863, 2010