The prediction of leak rate through porous gaskets for different gases based on test conducted on a reference gas can prevent bolted joint leakage failure and save the industry lots of money. This work gives a basic comparison between different gas flow models that can be used to predict leak rates through porous gasket materials. The ability of a model to predict the leak rate at the micro- and nanolevels in tight gaskets relies on its capacity to incorporate different flow regimes that can be present under different working conditions. Four models based on Navier–Stokes equations that incorporate different boundary conditions and characterize specific flow regime are considered. The first- and second-order slip, diffusivity, and molecular flow models are used to predict and correlate leak rates of gases namely helium, nitrogen, SF6, methane, argon, and air passing through three frequently used porous gasket materials which are flexible graphite, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and compressed fiber. The methodology is based on the determination experimentally of the porosity parameter (N and R) of the microchannels assumed to simulate the leak paths present in the gasket using helium as the reference gas. The predicted leak rates of different gases at different stresses and pressure levels are confronted to the results obtained experimentally by measurements of leak rates using pressure rise and mass spectrometry techniques. The results show that the predictions depend on the type of flow regime that predominates. Nevertheless, the second-order slip model is the one that gives better agreements with the measured leaks in all cases.
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October 2019
Research-Article
On the Use of Gas Flow Models to Predict Leak Rates Through Sheet Gasket Materials
Abdel-Hakim Bouzid,
Abdel-Hakim Bouzid
Professor
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: hakim.bouzid@etsmtl.ca
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: hakim.bouzid@etsmtl.ca
1Corresponding author.
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Ali Salah Omar Aweimer
Ali Salah Omar Aweimer
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: Ali-salah-omar.aweimer.1@etsmtl.ca
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: Ali-salah-omar.aweimer.1@etsmtl.ca
Search for other works by this author on:
Abdel-Hakim Bouzid
Professor
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: hakim.bouzid@etsmtl.ca
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: hakim.bouzid@etsmtl.ca
Ali Salah Omar Aweimer
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: Ali-salah-omar.aweimer.1@etsmtl.ca
Ecole de Technologie Superieure,
1100 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
e-mail: Ali-salah-omar.aweimer.1@etsmtl.ca
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Pressure Vessel and Piping Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF PRESSURE VESSEL TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received September 22, 2017; final manuscript received June 14, 2019; published online July 17, 2019. Editor: Young W. Kwon.
J. Pressure Vessel Technol. Oct 2019, 141(5): 051204 (9 pages)
Published Online: July 17, 2019
Article history
Received:
September 22, 2017
Revised:
June 14, 2019
Citation
Bouzid, A., and Aweimer, A. S. O. (July 17, 2019). "On the Use of Gas Flow Models to Predict Leak Rates Through Sheet Gasket Materials." ASME. J. Pressure Vessel Technol. October 2019; 141(5): 051204. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4044115
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