Effect of the flow approach angle on the dynamics of loosely-supported tube arrays

2020 ◽  
Vol 368 ◽  
pp. 110802
Author(s):  
Amro Elhelaly ◽  
Marwan Hassan ◽  
Atef Mohany ◽  
Soha Eid Moussa
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Mingjie Zhang ◽  
Ole Øiseth

AbstractA convolution-based numerical algorithm is presented for the time-domain analysis of fluidelastic instability in tube arrays, emphasizing in detail some key numerical issues involved in the time-domain simulation. The unit-step and unit-impulse response functions, as two elementary building blocks for the time-domain analysis, are interpreted systematically. An amplitude-dependent unit-step or unit-impulse response function is introduced to capture the main features of the nonlinear fluidelastic (FE) forces. Connections of these elementary functions with conventional frequency-domain unsteady FE force coefficients are discussed to facilitate the identification of model parameters. Due to the lack of a reliable method to directly identify the unit-step or unit-impulse response function, the response function is indirectly identified based on the unsteady FE force coefficients. However, the transient feature captured by the indirectly identified response function may not be consistent with the physical fluid-memory effects. A recursive function is derived for FE force simulation to reduce the computational cost of the convolution operation. Numerical examples of two tube arrays, containing both a single flexible tube and multiple flexible tubes, are provided to validate the fidelity of the time-domain simulation. It is proven that the present time-domain simulation can achieve the same level of accuracy as the frequency-domain simulation based on the unsteady FE force coefficients. The convolution-based time-domain simulation can be used to more accurately evaluate the integrity of tube arrays by considering various nonlinear effects and non-uniform flow conditions. However, the indirectly identified unit-step or unit-impulse response function may fail to capture the underlying discontinuity in the stability curve due to the prespecified expression for fluid-memory effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquin E. Moran ◽  
Yasser Selima

Abstract Fluidelastic instability (FEI) in tube arrays has been studied extensively experimentally and theoretically for the last 50 years, due to its potential to cause significant damage in short periods. Incidents similar to those observed at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station indicate that the problem is not yet fully understood, probably due to the large number of factors affecting the phenomenon. In this study, a new approach for the analysis and interpretation of FEI data using machine learning (ML) algorithms is explored. FEI data for both single and two-phase flows have been collected from the literature and utilized for training a machine learning algorithm in order to either provide estimates of the reduced velocity (single and two-phase) or indicate if the bundle is stable or unstable under certain conditions (two-phase). The analysis included the use of logistic regression as a classification algorithm for two-phase flow problems to determine if specific conditions produce a stable or unstable response. The results of this study provide some insight into the capability and potential of logistic regression models to analyze FEI if appropriate quantities of experimental data are available.


Author(s):  
Tomomichi Nakamura

Fluidelastic vibration of tube arrays caused by cross-flow has recently been highlighted by a practical event. There have been many studies on fluidelastic instability, but almost all works have been devoted to the tube-vibration in the transverse direction to the flow. For this reason, there are few data on the fluidelastic forces for the in-flow movement of the tubes, although the measured data on the stability boundary has gradually increased. The most popular method to estimate the fluidelastic force is to measure the force acting on tubes due to the flow, combined with the movement of the tubes. However, this method does not give the physical explanation of the root-cause of fluidelastic instability. In the work reported here, the in-flow instability is assumed to be a nonlinear phenomenon with a retarded or delayed action between adjacent tubes. The fluid force acting on tubes are estimated, based on the measured data in another paper for the fixed cylinders with distributed pressure sensors on the surface of the cylinders. The fluid force acting on the downstream-cylinder is assumed in this paper to have a delayed time basically based on the distance between the separation point of the upstream-cylinder to the re-attachment point, where the fluid flows with a certain flow velocity. Two models are considered: a two-cylinder and three–cylinder models, based on the same dimensions as our experimental data to check the critical flow velocity. Both models show the same order of the critical flow velocity and a similar trend for the effect of the pitch-to-diameter ratio of the tube arrays, which indicates this analysis has a potential to explain the in-flow instability if an adequate fluid force is used.


2017 ◽  
Vol 189 ◽  
pp. 193-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuling Ma ◽  
Haitao Wang ◽  
Huixuan Zhang ◽  
Xiuwen Cheng ◽  
Mingzheng Xie ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Michalina Markousi ◽  
Dimitrios K. Fytanidis ◽  
Johannes V. Soulis

Reducing the wind loading of photovoltaic structures is crucial for their structural stability. In this study, two solar panel arrayed sets were numerically tested for load reduction purposes. All panel surface areas of the arrayed set are exposed to the wind similarly. The first set was comprised of conventional panels. The second one was fitted with square holes located right at the gravity center of each panel. Wind flow analysis on standalone arrayed set of panels at fixed inclination was carried out to calculate the wind loads at various flow velocities and directions. The panels which included holes reduced the velocity in the downwind flow region and extended the low velocity flow region when compared to the nonhole panels. The loading reduction, in the arrayed set of panels with holes ranged from 0.8% to 12.53%. The maximum load reduction occurred at 6.0 m/s upwind velocity and 120.0° approach angle. At 30.00 approach angle, wind load increased but marginally. Current research work findings suggest that the panel holes greatly affect the flow pattern and subsequently the wind load reduction. The computational analysis indicates that it is possible to considerably reduce the wind loading using panels with holes.


Author(s):  
Tomomichi Nakamura ◽  
Shinichiro Hagiwara ◽  
Joji Yamada ◽  
Kenji Usuki

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.


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