I have not been able to get any literature on the design of stationary labyrinths intended to reduce pressure/leakages in incompressible fluid flows even after much serchings to my level best in India.Anybody may please help me.I thank dingarim@yahoo.com and John C.Chien for their suggestions.I am eagerly looking forward to kind responses.

(1). I think, it is used for compressible flow in turbomachinery, such as jet engines, etc. (2). For water pumps, liquid pumps, they use different types. There maybe exceptions, but I don't know.

Dear Mr.John C.Chien, The one I want is for flow of liquids.The grooves are expected to be there on the stationery shaft placed coaxially inside an outer sleeve with a very small annular gap.

I am very optimistic that I will be able to collect very useful informations from among so many learned visitors to this wonderful online service.

Lot of thanks and with with warm regards, s.p.asok

(1). The analysis of the knife-edge seal (or Labyrinth seal) can be done with CFD codes. (2). It is not a difficult task and can be done quite easily. (3). Check the ASME/Journal of Fluids Engineering, and ASME/Journal of Turbomachinery.

Dear sir, I have been able to analyse them with commercial codes.Theoretical nvestigations are seldom found.Unfortunately when I contacted a few investigators working on similar topics they are tightliped.They could atleast send back the mails indicating their unwillingness to come into communication.At this backdrop my last resort is this respected forum and so far it is so good. Regards, asok

(1). I think, it is usually done by designer using empirical methods. (2). Increasing the number knife edges will improve the leakage problem. And the gap or clearance is a function of the over-all machine size.

Dear Mr.John, There should have ben some engineering basis for those empirical methods which if available will be of great use.It does not seem that increase in the no. of knife edges wilpromote more leakage.The gap happens to be decided by the specific application-in petroleum industries it is even less than 0.1 mm Thaks ans regards, s.p.asok

Unfortunately for your purposes the design of labyrinth seals is an exercise most often done in the world of gas turbines and jet engines. As you might imagine the design procedures that go into this are mostly proprietary even though these types of seals are used by many manfacturers. This situation is not unique to labyrinth seals.

The development of seals is often experimental. you may be able to find information on these components in turbomachinery and/or fluid mechanics journals.

Dear Mr.Clifford Bradford, Thank you sir for your suggestions.Whatever materials I have got so far are from the citations you have given.There can be reasons to why so many facts have been kept as proprietory.Your sincere mail is highly supporting.Regards, asok