Abstract
Magnetorheological fluid (MRF) exhibits drastic changes in rheological properties adjustable and controllable yield stress under external magnetic field. Based on its specialty, the MRF seal technique is proposed to deal with the air leakage of circular cooler to improve the energy efficiency for the steel industry. MRF is regarded as Bingham fluid with its magnetization vector and magnetic force expressed by mathematical functions. The FEM analysis results show that, under magnetic field, MRF which presents good pressure resistance as a result of its yield stress is in a dynamic equilibrium state in non-magnetic seal groove even with pressure difference, and due to the volume force, it presents unsteady swirl flow obviously at the right-angle edges of the two permanent magnets nearby non-magnetic separator, whereas, due to pressure difference, it shows an obvious flow without magnetic field. In the meantime, according to the experiment, it indicates that the air leakage of circular cooler is solvable effectively with the MRF seal method, and it is also proved that MRF shows controllable yield stress under magnetic field.