The application of magnetic fluids in sealing nodes designed for operation in difficult conditions and in machines used in sea environment

Presented in article MF seals are being researched for sea technology purposes due to their excellent tightness and low resistance of motion. These features are most valuable for ring propellers and ship's main propeller shaft. There are more reasons why technologists payf significant attention for various MF seals applications in their difficult operating conditions. For instance, an advanced pumping systems are designed with contactless (screw or centrifugal) fluid seal used as the first stage seal and then the MF seal as the main seal. Further parts of the article contain discuss of the properties of magnetic fluids in the construction of MF seals. Sample of the few systems of magnetic fluid seals are presented, which have been researched lately in our laboratory including sea conditions. The magnetic fluids used in our seals are colloidal suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles. Undertaken earlier various systems selection for sea-water purposes forced us to focus on double sealing systems, in which the MF seal is used as the second seal following a conventional system especially adapted to co-operation with MF systems. This solution successfully limits direct contact of the sealed liquid with the magnetic fluid, and the entire sealing construction secures absolute tightness of the system. Using this solution we also can reduce costs by elements high accuracy avoidance. Research and design activities are carried out in the AGH Laboratory of Seals and Magnetic Fluid Applications together with Deep Water Department of Technical University of Gdansk over the use of magnetic fluid seals in sea water environment. These activities are oriented on working out MF seals able to work effectively in machines in which low-pressure water flow takes place. The objects of experimental investigations are seals having two different nominal diameters: 50 mm and 220 mm and two research rigs of different construction had to be built up. Works are scheduled to be continued.