Influence of fluidelastic vibration frequency on predicting damping controlled instability using a quasi-steady model in a normal triangular tube array

Abstract

Researchers have applied theoretical and CFD models for years to analyze the fluidelastic instability (FEI) of tube arrays in steam generators and other heat exchangers. The accuracy of each approach has typically been evaluated using the discrepancy between the experimental critical flow velocity and the predicted value. In the best cases, the predicted critical flow velocity was within an order of magnitude comparable to the measured one. This paper revisits the quasi-steady approach for damping controlled FEI in a normal triangular array with a pitch ratio of P/d=1.375. The method addresses the fluidelastic frequency at the stability threshold as an input parameter for the approach. The excellent agreement between the estimated stability thresholds and the equivalent experimental results suggests that the fluidelastic frequency must be included in the quasi-steady analysis, which requires minimal computing time and experimental data. In addition, the model allows a simple time delay analysis regarding flow convective and viscous effects.

Keywords

• Heat exchanger tube array
• Fluidelastic instability
• Quasi-steady model
• Single degree of freedom tube
• Fluidelastic frequency
• Time delay