scholarly journals On Damping and Fluidelastic Instability in a Tube Bundle Subjected to Two-Phase Cross-Flow

Author(s):  
Joaquin E. Moran ◽  
David S. Weaver

An experimental study was conducted to investigate damping and fluidelastic instability in tube arrays subjected to two-phase cross-flow. The purpose of this research was to improve our understanding of these phenomena and how they are affected by void fraction and flow regime. The working fluid used was Freon 11, which better models steam-water than air-water mixtures in terms of vapour-liquid mass ratio as well as permitting phase changes due to pressure fluctuations. The damping measurements were obtained by “plucking” the monitored tube from outside the test section using electromagnets. An exponential function was fitted to the tube decay trace, producing consistent damping measurements and minimizing the effect of frequency shifting due to fluid added mass fluctuations. The void fraction was measured using a gamma densitometer, introducing an improvement over the Homogeneous Equilibrium Model (HEM) in terms of density and velocity predictions. It was found that the Capillary number, when combined with the two-phase damping ratio (interfacial damping), shows a well defined behaviour depending on the flow regime. This observation can be used to develop a better methodology to normalize damping results. The fluidelastic results agree with previously presented data when analyzed using the HEM and the half-power bandwidth method. The interfacial velocity is suggested for fluidelastic studies due to its capability for collapsing the fluidelastic data. The interfacial damping was introduced as a tool to include the effects of flow regime into the stability maps.

Author(s):  
Joaquin E. Moran ◽  
David S. Weaver

An experimental study was conducted to investigate two-phase damping in tube arrays. The objective was to compare different measurement methodologies in order to obtain a more reliable damping estimate. This will allow for improved guidelines related to failures due to fluidelastic instability in tube bundles. The methods compared were the traditionally used half-power bandwidth, the logarithmic decrement and an exponential fitting to the tube decay response. The working fluid used was Refrigerant 11 (Freon), which better models the real steam-water problem, as it allows for phase change. The void fraction was measured using a gamma densitometer, introducing an improvement over the traditional Homogeneous Equilibrium Model (HEM) in terms of velocity and density predictions. The results obtained by using the half-power bandwidth method agree with data previously reported for two-phase flow. The experiments showed that the half-power bandwidth produces higher damping values than the other two, but only up to a certain void fraction. After that point, the results obtained from the three methods are very similar. The exponential fitting proved to be more consistent than the logarithmic decrement, and it is not as sensitive as the half-power bandwidth to the frequency shifting caused by the change in added mass around the tube. By plotting the damping ratio as a function of void fraction, pitch mass flux and flow regime, we were able to verify that damping is more dependent on void fraction and flow regime than on mass flux.


1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Y. Lian ◽  
G. Noghrehkar ◽  
A. M. C. Chan ◽  
M. Kawaji

The effects of local two-phase flow parameters on the vibrational behavior of tubes have been studied in an in-line 5 × 20 tube bundle subjected to air-water cross-flow. One of the tubes was flexibly mounted and instrumented for vibration measurement and the others were rigid. Parameters obtained include local void fraction fluctuations, RMS amplitude of void fraction fluctuations, void fraction distributions across the tube bundle, flow regimes based on probability density function of void fraction signals, damping ratio, and tube vibration response as a function of mass flux, void fraction and dynamic pressure. Damping and tube vibration amplitude in two-phase flow have been found to be closely related to the RMS amplitudes of the local void fraction fluctuations and dynamic pressure fluctuations, respectively.


2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Moran ◽  
D. S. Weaver

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of damping in tube arrays subjected to two-phase cross-flow, mainly focusing on the influence of void fraction and flow regime. The model tube bundle had a parallel-triangular configuration, with a pitch ratio of 1.49. The two-phase flow loop used in this research utilized Refrigerant 11 as the working fluid, which better models steam-water than air-water mixtures in terms of vapour-liquid mass ratio as well as permitting phase changes due to pressure fluctuations. The void fraction was measured using a gamma densitometer, introducing an improvement over the homogeneous equilibrium model (HEM). Three different damping measurement methodologies were implemented and compared in order to obtain a more reliable damping estimate: the traditionally used half-power bandwidth, the logarithmic decrement and an exponential fitting to the tube decay response. The experiments showed that the half-power bandwidth produces higher damping values than the other two methods, due to the tube frequency shifting triggered by fluctuations in the added mass and coupling between the tubes, which depend on void fraction and flow regime. The exponential fitting proved to be the more consistent and reliable approach to estimating damping. A dimensional analysis was carried out to investigate the relationship between damping and two-phase flow related parameters. As a result, the inclusion of surface tension in the form of the capillary number appears to be useful when combined with the two-phase component of the damping ratio (interfacial damping). A strong dependence of damping on flow regime was observed when plotting the interfacial damping versus the void fraction, introducing an improvement over the previous results obtained by normalizing the two-phase damping, which does not exhibit this behavior.


Author(s):  
In-Cheol Chu ◽  
Heung June Chung ◽  
Young Jung Yun

Fluid-elastic instability characteristics in an air-water two-phase cross-flow have been experimentally investigated using two different arrangements of cantilevered straight tube bundles. Rotated triangular array tube bundle is for the supplementary test of the existing work, and normal square array tube bundle is for the investigation of fluid-elastic instability in higher p/d condition. The present paper provides the experimental results of the tube vibration response, hydrodynamic mass, damping ratio, and fluid-elastic instability. As the two-phase gap velocity increased, the fluidic-elastic instability occurred in the lift direction and a strongly coupled tube motion was found. The damping ratio was very dependent on the void fraction, as in the previous works. For a low void fraction flow, the fluid-elastic instability could be predicted by using Connors’ equation. However, the fluid-elastic instability in a high void fraction flow was quite different. The transition between the two fluid-elastic instability regions almost coincided with the flow regime transition criteria from a continuous bubbly flow to an intermittent flow.


2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Sim ◽  
Njuki W. Mureithi

An approximate analytical model, to predict the drag coefficient on a cylinder and the two-phase Euler number for upward two-phase cross-flow through horizontal bundles, has been developed. To verify the model, two sets of experiments were performed with an air–water mixture for a range of pitch mass fluxes and void fractions. The experiments were undertaken using a rotated triangular (RT) array of cylinders having a pitch-to-diameter ratio of 1.5 and cylinder diameter 38 mm. The void fraction model proposed by Feenstra et al. was used to estimate the void fraction of the flow within the tube bundle. An important variable for drag coefficient estimation is the two-phase friction multiplier. A new drag coefficient model has been developed, based on the single-phase flow Euler number formulation proposed by Zukauskas et al. and the two-phase friction multiplier in duct flow formulated by various researchers. The present model is developed considering the Euler number formulation by Zukauskas et al. as well as existing two-phase friction multiplier models. It is found that Marchaterre's model for two-phase friction multiplier is applicable to air–water mixtures. The analytical results agree reasonably well with experimental drag coefficients and Euler numbers in air–water mixtures for a sufficiently wide range of pitch mass fluxes and qualities. This model will allow researchers to provide analytical estimates of the drag coefficient, which is related to two-phase damping.


1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Pettigrew ◽  
C. E. Taylor ◽  
J. H. Jong ◽  
I. G. Currie

Two-phase cross-flow exists in many shell-and-tube heat exchangers. The U-bend region of nuclear steam generators is a prime example. Testing in two-phase flow simulated by air-water provides useful results inexpensively. However, two-phase flow parameters, in particular surface tension and density ratio, are considerably different in air-water than in steam-water. A reasonable compromise is testing in liquid-vapor Freon, which is much closer to steam-water while much simpler experimentally. This paper presents the first results of a series of tests on the vibration behavior of tube bundles subjected to two-phase Freon cross-flow. A rotated triangular tube bundle of tube-to-diameter ratio of 1.5 was tested over a broad range of void fractions and mass fluxes. Fluidelastic instability, random turbulence excitation, and damping were investigated. Well-defined fluidelastic instabilities were observed in continuous two-phase flow regimes. However, intermittent two-phase flow regimes had a dramatic effect on fluidelastic instability. Generally, random turbulence excitation forces are much lower in Freon than in air-water. Damping is very dependent on void fraction, as expected.


Author(s):  
Paul Feenstra ◽  
Teguewinde Sawadogo ◽  
Bruce Smith ◽  
Victor Janzen ◽  
Helen Cothron

The tubes in the U-bend region of a recirculating type of nuclear steam generator are subjected to cross-flow of a two-phase mixture of steam and water. There is a concern that these tubes may experience flow-induced vibration, including the damaging effects of fluidelastic instability. This paper presents an update and results from a series of flow-induced vibration experiments performed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) using the Multi-Span U-Bend test rig. In the present experiments, the main focus was to investigate fluidelastic instability of the U-tubes subjected to a cross-flow of air. The tube bundle is made of 22 U-tubes of 0.5 in (12.7 mm) diameter, arranged in a rotated triangular configuration with a pitch-over-diameter ratio of 1.5. The test rig could be equipped with variable clearance flat bar supports at two different locations to investigate a variety of tube and support configurations. The primary purpose of the overall project is to study the effect of flat bar supports on ‘in plane’ (‘streamwise’) instability in a U-tube bundle with realistic tube-to-support clearances or preloads, and eventually in two-phase flow conditions. Initially, the test rig was designed for tests in air-flow using an industrial air blower. Tests with two-phase Freon refrigerant (R-134a) will follow. This paper describes the test rig, experimental setup, and the challenges presented by simulating an accurate representation of current steam generator designs. Results from the first series of tests in air flow are described.


2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. P. Janzen ◽  
E. G. Hagberg ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew ◽  
C. E. Taylor

The dynamic response of U-tubes to two-phase cross-flow has been studied in tests involving a simplified U-tube bundle with a set of flat-bar supports at the apex, subjected to air–water cross-flow over the mid-span region. Tube vibration and the interaction between tubes and supports were measured over a wide range of void fractions and flow rates, for three different tube-to-support clearances. The vibration properties and tube-to-support work-rates could be characterized in terms of the relative influence of fluidelastic instability and random-turbulence excitation. For the first time, in a U-bend tube bundle with liquid or two-phase flow, fluidelastic instability was observed both in the out-of-plane and in the in-plane direction. This raises the possibility of higher-than-expected tube-to-support work-rates for U-tubes restrained by flat bars, particularly if fluidelastic instability, random turbulence and loose supports combine adversely.


2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ouajih Hamouda ◽  
David S. Weaver ◽  
Jovica Riznic

This paper presents the results of an experimental model study of the transient loading of steam generator tubes during a postulated main steam line break (MSLB) accident in a nuclear power plant. The problem involves complex transient two-phase flow dynamics and fluid-structural loading processes. A better understanding of this phenomenon will permit the development of improved design tools to ensure steam generator tube integrity. The pressure and temperature were measured upstream and downstream of a sectional model of a tube bundle in cross-flow, and the transient tube loads were directly measured using dynamic piezoelectric load cells. High-speed videos were taken to observe and better understand the flow phenomena causing the tube loading. The working fluid was R-134a and the tube bundle was a normal triangular array with a pitch ratio of 1.36. The flow through the bundle was choked for the majority of the transient. The transient tube loading is explained in terms of the associated fluid mechanics. An empirical model is developed that enables the prediction of the maximum tube loads once the pressure drop is known.


Author(s):  
T. F. Joly ◽  
N. W. Mureithi ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew

Tests were done to study the effect of angle of attack on the fluidelastic instability of a fully flexible tube bundle subjected to two-phase (Air-Water) cross-flow. A test array having nineteen flexible tubes in a rotated triangular configuration with a pitch-to-diameter ratio of 1.5 was tested. Four different angles of attack ranging for 0 degree (inline flexibility) through 30 and 60 degrees to 90 degrees (transverse flexibility) were studied. For each angle of attack several homogeneous void fractions have been tested (70%, 80%, 90%, and 95%). Stability test results show that the angle of attack strongly affect the tube bundle dynamic behavior. The different mechanisms underlying the fluidelastic instability are highlighted and the results compared to existing data on fluidelastic instability.


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