Improved Flow-Induced Vibration and Work-Rate Measurements of Steam-Generator Tubes

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. P. Janzen ◽  
B. A. W. Smith ◽  
L. Brunet ◽  
S. Fernando ◽  
D. Fingas
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Work Rate ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Software Analysis ◽  
Wide Range

In the past, the excessive fretting-wear of U-bend tubes observed in some nuclear steam generators has led to increased tube inspections, unexpectedly high numbers of plugged tubes and the prospect of degraded performance if left unchecked. In this paper, recent vibration and work-rate experiments that have attempted to address this problem are summarized, including tests of two-span U-tubes in air-water and straight tubes in two-phase Freon. Tube bundles were subjected to two-phase cross-flow over a wide range of flow conditions, measuring tube vibration, flow characteristics in the bundle, and the dynamic interaction (work-rate) between tubes and supports that gives rise to fretting-wear. Developments in vibration and work-rate instrumentation and software analysis tools are also presented. The result is an improved ability to measure dynamic properties and, thus, to better predict the vibration response and fretting-wear performance of steam generators.

Vibration and Work-Rate Measurements of Steam-Generator U-Tubes in Air-Water Cross-Flow

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor P. Janzen ◽  
Erik G. Hagberg ◽  
James N. F. Patrick ◽  
Michel J. Pettigrew ◽  
Colette E. Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Flow ◽  
Work Rate ◽  
Vibration Response ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Void Fractions ◽  
Vibration Properties ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability

In nuclear power plant steam generators, the vibration response of tubes in two-phase cross-flow is a general concern that in some cases has become a very real long-term wear problem. This paper summarizes the results of the most recent U-bend vibration-response tests in a program designed to address this issue. The tests involved a simplified U-tube bundle with a set of flat-bar supports at the apex, subjected to two-phase air-water cross-flow over the mid-span region of the U-bend. Tube vibration properties and tube-to-support interaction in the form of work-rates were measured over a wide range of flow velocities for homogeneous void fractions from zero to 90%, with three different tube-to-support clearances. The measured vibration properties and work-rates could be characterized by the relative influence of the two most important flow-induced excitation mechanisms at work, fluidelastic instability and random-turbulence excitation. As in previous similar tests, strong effects of fluidelastic instability were observed at zero and 25% void fraction for pitch velocities greater than approximately 0.5 m/s, whereas random turbulence dominated the tube vibration and work-rate response at higher void fractions. In both cases, a link between vibration properties and the effect of the flat-bar supports could be established by comparing the vibration crossing frequency, extracted from time-domain vibration signals, to the participation of the lowest few vibration modes and to the measured work-rate. This approach may be useful when fluidelastic instability, random turbulence and loose supports all combine to result in high work-rates. Such a combination of factors is thought to be responsible for excessive U-tube fretting-wear in certain types of operating steam generators.

Design Specifications to Ensure Flow-Induced Vibration and Fretting-Wear Performance in CANDU™ Steam Generators and Heat Exchangers

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Janzen ◽  
Yingke Han ◽  
Michel Pettigrew
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Design Specifications ◽  
Field Evidence ◽  
Main Steam

Preventing flow-induced vibration and fretting-wear problems in steam generators and heat exchangers requires design specifications that bring together specific guidelines, analysis methods, requirements and appropriate performance criteria. This paper outlines the steps required to generate and support such design specifications for CANDU™ nuclear steam generators and heat exchangers, and relates them to typical steam-generator design features and computer modeling capabilities. It also describes current issues that are driving changes to flow-induced vibration and fretting-wear specifications that can be applied to the design process for component refurbishment, replacement or new designs. These issues include recent experimental or field evidence for new excitation mechanisms, e.g., the possibility of in-plane fluidelastic instability of U-tubes, the demand for longer reactor and component lifetimes, the need for better predictions of dynamic properties and vibration response, e.g., two-phase random-turbulence excitation, and requirements to consider system “excursions” or abnormal scenarios, e.g., a main steam line break in the case of steam generators. The paper describes steps being taken to resolve these issues.

Time Domain Simulation of the Vibration of a Steam Generator Tube Subjected to Fluidelastic Forces Induced by Two-Phase Cross-Flow

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Téguewindé Sawadogo ◽  
Njuki Mureithi
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Work Rate ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Steam Generator Tube ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Instability Regime

Having previously verified the quasi-steady model under two-phase flow laboratory conditions, the present work investigates the feasibility of practical application of the model to a prototypical steam generator (SG) tube subjected to a nonuniform two-phase flow. The SG tube vibration response and normal work-rate induced by tube-support interaction are computed for a range of flow conditions. Similar computations are performed using the Connors model as a reference case. In the quasi-steady model, the fluid forces are expressed in terms of the quasi-static drag and lift force coefficients and their derivatives. These forces have been measured in two-phase flow over a wide range of void fractions making it possible to model the effect of void fraction variation along the tube span. A full steam generator tube subjected to a nonuniform two-phase flow was considered in the simulations. The nonuniform flow distribution corresponds to that along a prototypical steam-generator tube based on thermal-hydraulic computations. Computation results show significant and important differences between the Connors model and the two-phase flow based quasi-steady model. While both models predict the occurrence of fluidelastic instability, the predicted pre-instability and post instability behavior is very different in the two models. The Connors model underestimates the flow-induced negative damping in the pre-instability regime and vastly overestimates it in the post instability velocity range. As a result the Connors model is found to underestimate the work-rate used in the fretting wear assessment at normal operating velocities, rendering the model potentially nonconservative under these practically important conditions. Above the critical velocity, this model largely overestimates the work-rate. The quasi-steady model on the other hand predicts a more moderately increasing work-rate with the flow velocity. The work-rates predicted by the model are found to be within the range of experimental results, giving further confidence to the predictive ability of the model. Finally, the two-phase flow based quasi-steady model shows that fluidelastic forces may reduce the effective tube damping in the pre-instability regime, leading to higher than expected work-rates at prototypical operating velocities.

Vibration Excitation Forces in a Rotated Triangular Tube Bundle Subjected to Two-Phase Cross Flow

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Senez ◽  
N. W. Mureithi ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fluid Forces ◽  
Vibration Excitation

Two-phase cross flow exists in many shell-and-tube heat exchangers. Flow-induced vibration excitation forces can cause tube motion that will result in long-term fretting wear or fatigue. Detailed flow and vibration excitation force measurements in tube bundles subjected to two-phase cross flow are required to understand the underlying vibration excitation mechanisms. Studies on this subject have already been done, providing results on flow regimes, fluidelastic instabilities, and turbulence-induced vibration. The spectrum of turbulence-induced forces has usually been expected to be similar to that in single-phase flow. However, a recent study, using tubes with a diameter larger than that in a real steam generator, showed the existence of significant quasi-periodic forces in two-phase flow. An experimental program was undertaken with a rotated-triangular array of cylinders subjected to air-water cross-flow, to simulate two-phase mixtures. The tube bundle here has the same geometry as that of a real steam generator. The quasi-periodic forces have now also been observed in this tube bundle. The present work aims to understand turbulence-induced forces acting on the tube bundle, providing results on drag and lift force spectra and their behaviour according to flow parameters, and describing their correlations. Detailed experimental test results are presented in this paper. Comparison is also made with previous measurements with larger diameter tubes. The present results suggest that quasi-periodic fluid forces are not uncommon in tube arrays subjected to two-phase cross-flow.

Fluidelastic Instability and Periodic Fluid Forces in a Normal Triangular Tube Bundle Subjected to Air-Water Flow

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ricciardi ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew ◽  
N. W. Mureithi
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Fatigue Cracks ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fluid Forces ◽  
Void Fractions

Two-phase flow in power plant steam generators can induce tube vibrations, which may cause fretting-wear and even fatigue cracks. It is therefore important to understand the relevant two-phase flow-induced vibration mechanisms. Fluidelastic instabilities in cross-flow are known to cause the most severe vibration response in the U-bend region of steam generators. This paper presents test results of the vibration of a normal triangular tube bundle subjected to air-water cross-flow. The test section presents 31 flexible tubes. The pitch-to-diameter ratio of the bundle is 1.5, and the tube diameter is 38 mm. Tubes were flexible in the lift direction. Seven tubes were instrumented with strain gauges to measure their displacements. A broad range of void fractions (from 10% to 90%) and fluid velocities (up to 13 m/s) were tested. Fluidelastic instabilities were observed for void fractions between 10% and 60%. Periodic fluid forces were also observed. The results are compared with those obtained with the rotated triangular tube bundle, showing that the normal triangular configuration is more stable than the rotated triangular configuration.

Vibration Analysis of Steam Generators and Heat Exchangers: An Overview — Part II: Vibration, Response, Fretting-Wear, Guidelines

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel J. Pettigrew ◽  
Colette E. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Vibration Analysis ◽  
Response Prediction ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Vibration Response ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Service Water

Design guidelines were developed to prevent tube failures due to excessive flow-induced vibration in shell-and-tube heat exchangers. An overview of vibration analysis procedures and recommended design guidelines is presented in this paper. This paper pertains to liquid, gas and two-phase heat exchangers such as nuclear steam generators, reboilers, coolers, service water heat exchangers, condensers, and moisture-separator-reheaters. Part 2 of this paper covers forced vibration excitation mechanisms, vibration response prediction, resulting damage assessment, and acceptance criteria.

Experimental and Numerical Characterization of Flow-Induced Vibration of Multi-Span U-Tubes

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atef Mohany ◽  
Victor P. Janzen ◽  
Paul Feenstra ◽  
Shari King
Keyword(s):  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Test Program ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Support Design ◽  
Set Up

This paper describes a test program that was developed to measure the dynamic response of a bundle of steam generator U-tubes with Anti-Vibration Bar (AVB) supports, subjected to Freon two-phase cross-flow. The tube bundle geometry is similar to the geometry used in preliminary designs for future CANDU® steam generators. This test program is one of the initiatives that Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is undertaking to demonstrate that the tube support design for future CANDU steam generators meets the stringent requirements associated with a 60-year lifetime. In particular, the tests will address issues related to in- and out-of-plane fluidelastic instability and random turbulent excitation of a U-tube bundle with Anti-Vibration Bar (AVB) supports. Therefore, the measurements include tube vibration amplitudes and frequencies, work-rate due to impacting and sliding motion of the tubes against their supports, bulk process conditions and local two-phase flow properties. Details of the test rig set-up and the measurement techniques are described in the paper. Moreover, a numerical prediction of the U-tube vibration response to flow was performed with AECL’s PIPO-FE code. A summary of the numerical results is presented.

Vibration Excitation Force Measurements in a Rotated Triangular Tube Bundle Subjected to Two-Phase Cross Flow

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Zhang ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew ◽  
N. W. Mureithi
Keyword(s):  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
Force Measurements ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Drag Forces ◽  
Vibration Excitation ◽  
Excitation Force

Two-phase cross flow exists in many shell-and-tube heat exchangers. Flow-induced vibration excitation forces can cause tube motion that will result in long-term fretting-wear or fatigue. Detailed vibration excitation force measurements in tube bundles subjected to two-phase cross flow are required to understand the underlying vibration excitation mechanisms. An experimental program was undertaken with a rotated-triangular array of cylinders subjected to air/water flow to simulate two-phase mixtures over a broad range of void fraction and mass fluxes. Both the dynamic lift and drag forces were measured with strain gage instrumented cylinders. The experiments revealed somewhat unexpected but significant quasi-periodic forces in both the drag and lift directions. The periodic forces appeared well correlated along the cylinder with the drag force somewhat better correlated than the lift forces. The periodic forces are also dependent on the position of the cylinder within the bundle.

Experimental and Numerical Characterization of Flow-Induced Vibration of Multispan U-tubes

2011 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atef Mohany ◽  
Victor P. Janzen ◽  
Paul Feenstra ◽  
Shari King
Keyword(s):  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Test Program ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Support Design ◽  
Numerical Characterization

This paper describes a test program that was developed to measure the dynamic response of a bundle of steam generator U-tubes with anti-vibration bar (AVB) supports, subjected to Freon two-phase cross-flow. The tube bundle geometry is similar to the geometry used in preliminary designs for future CANDU steam generators. This test program is one of the initiatives that Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is undertaking to demonstrate that the tube support design for future CANDU steam generators meets the stringent requirements associated with a 60-year lifetime. In particular, the tests will address issues related to in- and out-of-plane fluidelastic instability and random turbulent excitation of a U-tube bundle with AVB supports. Therefore, the measurements include tube vibration amplitudes and frequencies, work-rate due to impacting and sliding motion of the tubes against their supports, bulk process conditions and local two-phase flow properties. Details of the test rig setup and the measurement techniques are described in the paper. Moreover, a numerical prediction of the U-tube vibration response to flow was performed with AECL’s pipo-fe code. A summary of the numerical results is presented.

Thermalhydraulic Analysis of Steam Generators: Application of the Thirst Code to Vibration Analyses

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yetisir ◽  
J. Pietralik ◽  
M. Mirzai
Keyword(s):  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Steam Quality ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Gap Flow

Flow-induced vibration concerns may be avoided by analysis, which requires the knowledge of flow patterns and the flow distribution in steam generators (SG). Typically, the distributions of flow velocity, fluid density, and, in the case of two-phase flow, distributions of steam quality and two-phase flow regime are needed. Generating this data is not straightforward because of the 3-dimensional nature of flow, complex steam generator geometry, and uncertainties associated with two-phase flow modelling. In this paper, the main features of THIRST, a thermalhydraulic code for recirculating SGs, are described. In addition, the effects of thermalhydraulic modelling and design features on velocity distributions and gap flow velocity needed for flow-induced vibration and fretting-wear calculations are discussed. These include an anisotropic resistance model in the U-bend region, design modifications in the U-bend region to reduce tube vibration, and the prediction of two-phase flow regimes.

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