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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Reduced-vibration tube array

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1174951

A reduced-vibration tube array is disclosed. The array includes a plurality of tubes in a fixed arrangement and a plurality of damping members positioned within the tubes. The damping members include contoured interface regions characterized by bracing points that selectively contact the inner surface of an associated tube. Each interface region is sized and shaped in accordance with the associated tube, so that the damping member bracing points are spaced apart a vibration-reducing distance from the associated tube inner surfaces at equilibrium. During operation, mechanical interaction between the bracing points and the tube inner surfaces reduces vibration by a damage-reducing degree. In one embodiment, the interface regions are serpentine shaped. In another embodiment, the interface regions are helical in shape. The interface regions may be simultaneously helical and serpentine in shape. The damping members may be fixed within the associated tubes, and damping member may be customized several interference regions having attributes chosen in accordance with desired flow characteristics and associated tube properties.

Research Organization:
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, Orlando, FL, (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC21-95MC32267
Assignee:
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
Patent Number(s):
6,763,921
Application Number:
10/244,067
OSTI ID:
1174951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English