This paper provides a brief overview of progress in our understanding of flow-induced vibration in power and process plant components. The flow excitation mechanisms considered are turbulence, vorticity shedding, fluidelastic instability, axial flows, and two-phase flows. Numerous references are provided along with suggestions for future research on unresolved issues.

Flow-Induced Vibrations in Power and Process Plant Components—Progress and Prospects

Vibration analysis of shell-and-tube heat exchangers: an overview—Part 1: flow, damping, fluidelastic instability

Vibration analysis of shell-and-tube heat exchangers: an overview—Part 2: vibration response, fretting-wear, guidelines

Flow-induced vibration : recent findings and open questions

PWR steam generators

Two-phase cross-flow exists in many shell-and-tube heat exchangers. The U-bend region of nuclear steam generators is a prime example. Testing in two-phase flow simulated by air-water provides useful results inexpensively. However, two-phase flow parameters, in particular surface tension and density ratio, are considerably different in air-water than in steam-water. A reasonable compromise is testing in liquid-vapor Freon, which is much closer to steam-water while much simpler experimentally. This paper presents the first results of a series of tests on the vibration behavior of tube bundles subjected to two-phase Freon cross-flow. A rotated triangular tube bundle of tube-to-diameter ratio of 1.5 was tested over a broad range of void fractions and mass fluxes. Fluidelastic instability, random turbulence excitation, and damping were investigated. Well-defined fluidelastic instabilities were observed in continuous two-phase flow regimes. However, intermittent two-phase flow regimes had a dramatic effect on fluidelastic instability. Generally, random turbulence excitation forces are much lower in Freon than in air-water. Damping is very dependent on void fraction, as expected.

Vibration of a Tube Bundle in Two-Phase Freon Cross-Flow

An extensive experimental program was carried out to study the vibration behavior of tube bundles subjected to two-phase cross-flow. Turbulence-induced excitation is discussed in Part 3 of this series of three papers. Random vibration response to turbulence-induced excitation is a significant vibration mechanism in heat exchanger tube bundles subjected to two-phase cross-flow. The vibration responses of centrally located tubes in four tube bundle configurations subjected to air-water cross-flow was measured. The results are presented in the form of a normalized forced-excitation spectrum which can be used as a design guideline over a void fraction range from 25 percent to 99 percent and over a practical range of flow rates. The data are further analyzed to determine the dependence of the vibration response on Reynolds number, void fraction and frequency. Measurements taken on a single tube, a row of tubes and on tubes having varying end conditions were used to assist in interpreting the bundle data.

Vibration of Tube Bundles in Two-Phase Cross-Flow: Part 3—Turbulence-Induced Excitation

Heat exchanger tubes can be damaged or fail if subjected to excessive flow-induced vibration, either from fatigue or fretting-wear. Good heat exchanger design requires that the designer understands and accounts for the vibration mechanisms that might occur, such as vortex shedding, turbulent excitation or fluidelastic instability. To incorporate these phenomena into a flow-induced vibration analysis of a heat exchanger requires information about damping. Damping in multispan heat exchanger tubes largely consists of three components: viscous damping along the tube, and friction and squeeze-film damping at the supports. Unlike viscous damping, squeeze-film damping and friction damage are poorly understood and difficult to measure. In addition, the effect of temperature-dependent fluid viscosity on tube damping has not been verified. To investigate these problems, a single vertical heat exchanger tube with multiple spans was excited by random vibration. Tests were conducted in air and in water at three different temperatures (25, 60, and 90 C). At room temperature, tests were carried out at five different preloads. Frequency response spectra and resonant peak-fitted damping ratios were calculated for all tests. Energy dissipation rates at the supports and the rate of excitation energy input were also measured. Results indicate that damping does not change overmore » the range of temperatures tested and friction damping is very dependent on preload.« less

/pdf/vibration-damping-in-multispan-heat-exchanger-tubes-1u7dr90fem.pdf

Vibration damping in multispan heat exchanger tubes

Data from two experimental programs have been analyzed to determine the characteristics of the random excitation forces associated with two-phase cross-flow in tube bundles. Large-scale air-water flow loops in France and Canada were used to generate the data. Tests were carried out on cantilevered, clamped-pinned, and clamped-clamped tubes in normal-square, parallel-triangular, and normal-triangular configurations. Either strain gages or force transducers were used to measure the vibration response of a centrally located tube as the tube array was subjected to a wide range of void fractions and flow rates. Power spectra were analyzed to determine the effect of parameters such as tube diameter, frequency, flow rate, void fraction, and flow regime on the random excitation forces. Normalized expressions for the excitation force power spectra were found to be flow-regime dependent. In the churn flow regime, flow rate and void fraction had very little effect on the magnitude of the excitation forces. In the bubble-plug flow regime, the excitation forces increased rapidly with flow rate and void fraction.

Random Excitation Forces in Tube Bundles Subjected to Two-Phase Cross-Flow

Etude experimentale des mecanismes de vibrations provoquees par la turbulence de l'ecoulement croise diphasique pour differentes conditions d'ecoulement, d'arrangement des tubes du faisceau, de la fraction vide et de geometrie de tubes. Evaluation de la vibration en fonction du nombre de Reynolds, de la fraction vide et de la frequence

I. G. Currie

Papers

Vibration of a Tube Bundle in Two-Phase Freon Cross-Flow

Vibration of Tube Bundles in Two-Phase Cross-Flow: Part 3—Turbulence-Induced Excitation

Vibration damping in multispan heat exchanger tubes

Random Excitation Forces in Tube Bundles Subjected to Two-Phase Cross-Flow

Vibration of tube bundles in two-phase cross-flow. III: Turbulence-induced excitation