Experiments on vibration of heat-exchanger tube arrays in cross flow

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6340941

Blevins, R. D.; Gibert, R. J.; Villard, B.

A series of tests has been made at the Commissariat a L Energie Atomique, Saclay, France, in cooperation with General Atomic Company, San Diego, on flow-induced vibration of simulated heat exchanger tube bundles in a cross flow of air. The tests were of two types. In the first type, a tube instrumented with pressure transducers was inserted at various locations in a tube bundle. Measurements were made of pressure spectra, coherence, and lift force. It was found that the turbulence-induced pressures rise from a low value at the bundle entrance to a relatively high value within the bundle. In the second type of test, tube bundles were fabricated from flexible plastic tubes, cantilevered off a tube sheet, and the vibration induced by cross flow was observed. An investigation was made of the effect of tube-to-tube frequency difference and spacing on the onset of instability. It was found that while present theory often qualitatively predicts the correct trends, it may not be quantitatively accurate in many cases.

• Research Organization: General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA); CEA Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
• DOE Contract Number: AT03-76ET35301
• OSTI ID: 6340941
• Report Number(s): GA-A-16161; CONF-810801-44
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
AIR
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
INFORMATION
MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
STABILITY
TUBES
TURBULENT FLOW
VELOCITY