A 3-dimensional calculation model for the smooth honeycomb seal was established by employing the Fluent software to investigate the effects of pressure ratio(inlet/outlet)

clearance

honeycomb cell inner diameter and height on the leakage characteristics of honeycomb seal.The results showed that

the leakage of honeycomb seal increased with the pressure ratio

and the increasing rate gradually decreased.The leakage flow increased sharply with the seal clearance

and the sealing effect deteriorated dramatically.An increase of honeycomb cell height was beneficial to reducing the leakage

for the leakage showed an "anti-S shape" decreasing trend as the honeycomb cell height increased.When the inner diameter of honeycomb cell was 3.2mm

the leakage reached the minimum;when the inner diameter was smaller than 3.2 mm

the effect of inner diameter change on leakage was very small and can be ignored;when the inner diameter was larger than3.2mm

the inner diameter variation can result in a sharp increased in leakage.It suggested that the height of the honeycomb cell should not be smaller than 4.8mm

and the diameter/height ratio should not be lower than 1.5.