Fluidelastic Vibration Analysis of Normal Square Finned Tube Arrays in Water Cross Flow

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep R. Desai ◽  
Aslam A. Maniyar
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Shedding ◽  
Fluid Velocity ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Finned Tube ◽  
Instability Threshold ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
Triangular Arrays ◽  
Array Pattern ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Pitch Ratio

An experimental program was carried out by subjecting normal square finned tube arrays to gradually increasing water cross flows. In all, total six tube arrays were tested—three having pitch ratio 2.1 and remaining three of pitch ratio 2.6. Under each category, three arrays tested were: plain array, coarse finned array, and fine finned array. The objective of the research was to determine the fluid velocity at which each of the six arrays becomes fluidelastically unstable. The experiments were started with tests on plain arrays to establish them as a datum case by comparing their test results with published results on plain arrays having lower pitch ratios. This was then followed by testing of finned arrays to study the effect of fins on the instability threshold. The tubes were subjected to a gradually increasing flow rate of water from 10 m3/h to the point where instability was reached. The results of the present work are compared with author's earlier published results for parallel triangular arrays in water. The research outcomes help to study the effect of pitch ratio, tube array pattern, and fin density on the instability threshold. The results show that instability is delayed due to the addition of the fins. It is also concluded that normal square arrays should be preferred over parallel triangular arrays to avoid fluidelastic vibrations. The vortex shedding behavior studied for all the arrays shows that small peaks before fluidelastic instability are due to vortex shedding.

The Effect of Fins on Fluidelastic Instability in In-Line and Rotated Square Arrays

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Lumsden ◽  
David S. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Finned Tube ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
Effective Diameter ◽  
Finned Tubes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Bare Tube

The study of fluidelastic instability in tube arrays has been ongoing for four decades. Although much research has been conducted, a full understanding of the mechanisms involved is still not available. Designers of cross-flow heat exchangers must depend on experience and empirical data from laboratory studies. As new designs are developed, which differ from these experimental facilities, there is an increased risk of failure due to fluidelastic instability. An experimental program was conducted to examine fluidelastic instability in in-line and rotated square finned tube arrays. Three arrays of each geometry type were studied; two with serrated, helically wound finned tubes of different fin densities, and the third, a bare tube which had the same base diameter as the finned tubes. The finned tubes under consideration were commercial finned tubes of a type typically used in the fossil and process industries. The addition of fins to tubes in heat exchangers enhances heat transfer due to the increased surface area and the turbulence produced by the flow moving over the fins. The resulting flow pattern/distribution due to the fins is therefore much more complicated than in bare tube arrays. Previous research has shown that an effective diameter of a finned tube is useful in the prediction of vortex shedding. This concept is used to compare the finned tube results with the existing bare tube array guidelines for fluidelastic instability. All of the tube arrays in the present study have the same tube pitch, and have been scaled to have the same mass ratio. Results for the rotated square arrays show that the use of an effective diameter is beneficial in the scaling of fluidelastic instability and the finned tube results are found to fit within the scatter of the existing data for fluidelastic instability. For in-line square arrays, the results indicate that fins significantly increase the stability threshold.

Fluid elastic instability and vortex induced vibration parameters in finned tube arrays with P/D ratio 1.79

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pravin Hindurao Yadav ◽  
Dillip kumar Mohanty
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Shedding ◽  
Experimental Analysis ◽  
Finned Tube ◽  
Elastic Instability ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Vortex Induced Vibration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Pitch Ratio ◽  
Fin Tube

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the effect of fin geometry on mechanisms of flow induced vibration. Finned tube arrays are used in a heat exchanger to increase its efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of geometric parameters of the fin fluid elastic instability and vortex shedding. In this paper, the effect of fin height, fin density and tube pitch ratio for parallel triangular tube array on fluid elastic instability and vortex shedding is analyzed. Design/methodology/approach Experimental analysis was carried out on a parallel triangular finned tube array with a pitch ratio of 1.79 subjected to water crossflow. The experimentation aims to study fluid elastic instability and vortex-induced vibration mechanism responsible for flow induced vibration for finned tube array. A fully flexible finned tube array of the copper tube was used with its base diameter of 19.05 mm and thickness of 2 mm. Over the tube surface, crimped fins of height 6 mm and the same material are welded spirally with fin density 8.47 mm and 2.82 mm. Experimental analysis was carried out on a test setup developed for the same. The results obtained for the finned tube array were compared with those for the plain tube array with the same base tube diameter. Findings For parallel triangular tube array of copper material, test results show that critical velocity increases with an increase in fin pitch density for low pitch tube array. Before the occurrence of instability, the rate of growth in tube vibrations is high for plain tubes compared to that with fin tubes. The results based on Owen’s hypothesis show vortex shedding before the occurrence of fluid elastic instability. The effect of fin geometry on vortex-induced forces is analyzed. For the tube array pattern understudy, the values of Conner’s constant K for coarse fin-tube and fine fin tube array are obtained, respectively, 6.14 and 7.25. Originality/value This paper fulfills the need for research on the effect of fin geometry on fluid elastic instability and Vortex shedding on a tube array subjected to water cross flow when the pitch ratio is less than two, i.e. with a low pitch ratio.

Experimental Investigation on Vortex Shedding and Fluid Elastic Instability in Finned Tube Arrays Subjected to Water Cross Flow

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep R. Desai ◽  
S. Pavitran
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Shedding ◽  
Water Flow Rate ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Elastic Vibration ◽  
Finned Tube ◽  
Elastic Instability ◽  
Process Industries ◽  
Hydrodynamic Coupling ◽  
Test Parameters ◽  
Tube Arrays

The paper presents results of an experimental study on fluid elastic instability and vortex shedding in plain and finned arrays exposed to water cross flow. The parallel triangular array with cantilever end condition is considered for the study. Pitch ratios considered are 2.1 and 2.6 while fin densities considered are 4 fpi (fins per inch) and 10 fpi. The results for critical velocity at instability for two finned tube arrays are presented. Apart from results on fluid elastic vibration behavior, extensive results on vortex shedding are also presented to study the phenomenon in tube arrays subjected to water cross flow. The test parameters measured are water flow rate, natural frequency, and vibration amplitudes of the tubes. The datum case results were first obtained by testing plain arrays with pitch ratios 2.1 and 2.6. This was then followed by experiments with finned arrays with pitch ratios 2.1 and 2.6, and each with two different fin densities. The higher pitch ratios typical of chemical process industries resulted in the delayed instability threshold due to weak hydrodynamic coupling between the neighboring tubes. The results indicated that finned arrays are more stable in water cross flow compared to plain arrays. The Strouhal numbers corresponding to small peaks observed before fluid elastic instability are computed and compared with the expected ones according to Owen's hypothesis. It was concluded that peaks observed are attributed to vortex shedding observed for all the arrays tested in water.

Experimental analysis of fluid elastic vibrations in rotated square finned tube arrays subjected to water cross flow

2019 ◽  
Vol 233 (17) ◽  
pp. 6124-6134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep R Desai ◽  
Rohit V Kengar
Keyword(s):  
Research Work ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Finned Tube ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Tube Heat Exchanger ◽  
Finned Tubes ◽  
Array Pattern ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Plain Tube

The majority of the failures of shell and tube heat exchanger tubes are reported due to the flow-induced vibration caused by shell side cross flow. Fluid elastic instability, vortex shedding, and turbulent buffeting are the excitation mechanisms responsible for the failure of the tubes. The failure occurs due to tube-to-tube impacts leading to impaction marks on the tube surface and, subsequently, leading to the failure due to fretting wear and fatigue. The present research work deals with the determination of critical velocity at instability for rotated square finned tube arrays subjected to water cross flow. In all, total six tube arrays are tested with two different pitch ratios, each with a plain tube array, a coarse finned tube array, and a fine finned tube array. Pitch ratios considered in the study are 2.1 and 2.6, while fin densities considered are coarse (4 fpi = 6.35 mm) and fine (10 fpi = 2.54 mm). The effect of array pattern, pitch ratio, and fin density on the onset of instability is studied by conducting experiments in the water cross flow. The effect of tube array pattern is studied by comparing the results of the present study with authors' published results for parallel triangular finned tube arrays in the water cross flow. The study led to the conclusion that the instability threshold is delayed for rotated square tube arrays compared to parallel triangular tube arrays. It is also observed that instability thresholds for coarse and fine finned tubes are delayed compared to plain tubes and is found to be more for finned tubes with higher fin densities.

Investigation of In-Flow Fluidelastic Instability of Square Tube Arrays Subjected to Air Cross Flow

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomichi Nakamura ◽  
Shinichiro Hagiwara ◽  
Joji Yamada ◽  
Kenji Usuki
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Flexible Cylinder ◽  
Triangular Arrays ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability

In-flow instability of tube arrays is a recent major issue in heat exchanger design since the event at a nuclear power plant in California [1]. In our previous tests [2], the effect of the pitch-to-diameter ratio on fluidelastic instability in triangular arrays is reported. This is one of the present major issues in the nuclear industry. However, tube arrays in some heat exchangers are arranged as a square array configuration. Then, it is important to study the in-flow instability on the case of square arrays. The in-flow fluidelastic instability of square arrays is investigated in this report. It was easy to observe the in-flow instability of triangular arrays, but not for square arrays. The pitch-to-diameter ratio, P/D, is changed from 1.2 to 1.5. In-flow fluidelastic instability was not observed in the in-flow direction. Contrarily, the transverse instability is observed in all cases including the case of a single flexible cylinder. The test results are finally reported including the comparison with the triangular arrays.

Spanwise Correlation of Surface Pressure Fluctuations in Heat Exchanger Tube Arrays

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Mahon ◽  
Paul Cheeran ◽  
Craig Meskell
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Surface Pressure ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Heat Exchanger Tube ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Pitch Ratio ◽  
Excitation Mechanisms ◽  
Exchanger Tube

An experimental study of the surface spanwise pressure on a cylinder in the third row of two normal triangular tube arrays (P/d = 1.32 and 1.58) with air cross flow has been conducted. A range of flow velocities were examined. The correlation of surface pressure fluctuations due to various vibration excitation mechanisms along the span of heat exchanger tubes has been assessed. The turbulent buffeting is found to be uncorrelated along the span which is consistent with generally accepted assumptions in previous studies. Vortex shedding and acoustic resonances were well correlated along the span of the cylinder, with correlations lengths approaching the entire length of the cylinder. Jet switching was observed in the pitch ratio of 1.58 and was found to be correlated along the cylinder, although the spatial behaviour is complex. This result suggests that the excitation force used in fretting wear models may need to be updated to include jet switching in the calculation.

Flow Velocity Dependence of Damping in Tube Arrays Subjected to Liquid Cross-Flow

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Chen ◽  
J. A. Jendrzejczyk
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Vortex Shedding ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Elastic Instability ◽  
Velocity Dependence ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Fluid Damping ◽  
Lift And Drag

Experiments are conducted to determine the damping for a tube in tube arrays subjected to liquid cross-flow; damping factors in the lift and drag directions are measured for in-line and staggered arrays. It is found that: 1) fluid damping is not a constant, but a function of flow velocity; 2) damping factors in the lift and drag directions are different; 3) fluid damping depends on the tube location in an array; 4) flow velocity-dependent damping is coupled with vortex shedding process and fluid-elastic instability; and 5) flow velocity-dependent damping may be negative. This study demonstrates that flow velocity-dependent damping is important. These characteristics should be properly taken into account in the mathematical modeling of tube arrays subjected to cross-flow.

Two-Phase Flow-Induced Vibration of Parallel Triangular Tube Arrays With Asymmetric Support Stiffness

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Feenstra ◽  
David S. Weaver ◽  
Tomomichi Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Heat Exchanger Tube ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Tube Bundles ◽  
Pitch Ratio ◽  
Exchanger Tube

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the flow-induced vibration response and fluidelastic instability threshold of model heat exchanger tube bundles subjected to a cross-flow of refrigerant 11. Tube bundles were specially built with tubes cantilever-mounted on rectangular brass support bars so that the stiffness in the streamwise direction was about double that in the transverse direction. This was designed to simulate the tube dynamics in the U-bend region of a recirculating-type nuclear steam generator. Three model tube bundles were studied, one with a pitch ratio of 1.49 and two with a smaller pitch ratio of 1.33. The primary intent of the research was to improve our understanding of the flow-induced vibrations of heat exchanger tube arrays subjected to two-phase cross-flow. Of particular concern was to compare the effect of the asymmetric stiffness on the fluidelastic stability threshold with that of axisymmetric stiffness arrays tested most prominently in literature. The experimental results are analyzed and compared with existing data from literature using various definitions of two-phase fluid parameters. The fluidelastic stability thresholds of the present study agree well with results from previous studies for single-phase flow. In two-phase flow, the comparison of the stability data depends on the definition of two-phase flow velocity.

A Study on Stream-Wise Oscillation of Cylinder Arrays: Effect of Pitch Ratio

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomichi Nakamura ◽  
Takafumi Yoshikawa ◽  
Taku Yoshimura ◽  
Hironobu Kondo
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Strain Gages ◽  
Flow Oscillation ◽  
Digital Video Camera ◽  
Cylinder Arrays ◽  
Tube Arrays ◽  
Pitch Ratio

The importance of the in-flow oscillation of a single cylinder in cross-flow has been spotlighted since an accident in a FBR-type reactor. However, the in-flow oscillation can be observed in tube arrays of heat exchangers. Previous reports show some interesting phenomena on the oscillation of cylinder arrays, which have a same pitch between cylinders. This paper shows the effect of the pitch ratio of a cylinder array on the characteristics of those phenomena, especially in in-flow direction, where every cylinder can move only in this direction. The motion of cylinders is measured by attached strain gages and by a high-speed digital video camera.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document