A Quasi-Steady In-Plane Fluidelastic Instability Analysis of a Rotated Triangular Tube Array in Two-Phase Cross Flow

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Olala ◽  
Njuki Mureithi
Keyword(s):  
Time Delay ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Dynamic Test ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Unsteady Forces ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Fluid Coupling ◽  
Flexible Tubes ◽  
Experimental Effort

In-plane fluidelastic instability is a dynamic phenomenon requiring fluid coupling of at least two degrees-of-freedom, in this case, at least two flexible tubes. Due to the nature of the mechanism causing streamwise fluidelastic instability, a purely experimental or an unsteady determination would require intensive experimental effort. As a compromise between experimental effort and prediction accuracy, the quasi-steady model is used in the current study. In the present work, previously measured quasi-steady and unsteady forces are used to estimate the time delay first between the displacement of an oscillating tube and the forces generated on itself then the time delay between the displacement of a central oscillating tube and the forces induced on the adjacent tubes. The estimated time delays are then used together with drag coefficients and derivatives to predict the in-plane fluidelastic instability in a rotated triangular tube array of P/D = 1.5 subjected to two-phase flow. The results closely replicate dynamic test results and confirm the predominance of the stiffness controlled mechanism and the potential of the quasi-steady model in accurately predicting streamwise fluidelastic instability in arrays subjected to two-phase flows.

An unsteady model for fluidelastic instability in an array of flexible tubes in two-phase cross-flow

2015 ◽  
Vol 285 ◽  
pp. 58-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nai-bin Jiang ◽  
Bin Chen ◽  
Feng-gang Zang ◽  
Yi-xiong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Cross Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Flexible Tubes

The Effect of Angle of Attack on the Fluidelastic Instability of Tube Bundle Subjected to Two-Phase Cross-Flow

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. F. Joly ◽  
N. W. Mureithi ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew
Keyword(s):  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Void Fractions ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Flexible Tubes ◽  
Existing Data

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.

Fluidelastic Instability of an Array of Tubes Preferentially Flexible in the Flow Direction Subjected to Two-Phase Cross Flow

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Violette ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew ◽  
N. W. Mureithi
Keyword(s):  
Flow Direction ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Direction Parallel ◽  
Array Configuration ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Plane Direction ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Flexible Tubes

Almost all the available data about fluidelastic instability of heat exchanger tube bundles concerns tubes that are axisymmetrically flexible. In those cases, the instability is found to be mostly in the direction transverse to the flow. Thus, the direction parallel to the flow has raised less concern in terms of bundle stability. However, the flat bar supports used in steam generator for preventing U-tube vibration may not be as effective in the in-plane direction than in the out-of-plane direction. The possibility that fluidelastic instability can develop in the flow direction must then be assessed. In the present work, tests were done to study the fluidelastic instability of a cluster of seven tubes much more flexible in the flow direction than in the lift direction. The array configuration is rotated triangular with a pitch to diameter ratio of 1.5. The array was subjected to two-phase (air-water) cross flow. Fluidelastic instability was observed when the flexible tubes were located at the center of the test section and also when the seven flexible tubes were placed over two adjacent columns. No instability was found for a single flexible tube in a rigid array, nor for the case where the seven flexible tubes were placed in a single column. Tests were also done with tubes that are axisymmetrically flexible for comparison purposes. It was found that fluidelastic instability occurs at higher velocities when the tubes are flexible only in the flow direction. These results and additional wind tunnel results are compared to existing data on fluidelastic instability. Two-phase flow damping results are also presented in this paper.

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

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquin E. Moran ◽  
David S. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Flow Regime ◽  
Void Fraction ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Phase Changes ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability

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.

Estimation of the Time Delay Associated With Damping Controlled Fluidelastic Instability in a Normal Triangular Tube Array

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Mahon ◽  
Craig Meskell
Keyword(s):  
Time Delay ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Fluid Forces ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Sample Frequency ◽  
Pitch Ratio ◽  
Parameterized Model ◽  
Semi Empirical ◽  
Insight Into

Fluidelastic instability (FEI) produces large amplitude self-excited vibrations close to the natural frequency of the structure. For fluidelastic instability caused by the damping controlled mechanism, there is a time delay between tube motion and the resulting fluid forces but magnitude and physical cause of this is unclear. This study measures the time delay between tube motion and the resulting fluid forces in a normal triangular tube array with a pitch ratio of 1.32 subject to air cross-flow. The instrumented cylinder was forced to oscillate in the lift direction at three excitation frequencies for a range of flow velocities. Unsteady surface pressures were monitored with a sample frequency of 2 kHz at the mid plane of the instrumented cylinder. The instantaneous fluid forces were obtained by integrating the surface pressure data. A time delay between the tube motion and resulting fluid forces was obtained. The nondimensionalized time delay was of the same order of magnitude assumed in the semi-empirical quasi-steady model (i.e., τ2 = 0.29 d/U). Although, further work is required to provide a parameterized model of the time delay which can be embedded in a model of damping controlled fluidelastic forces, the data already provides some insight into the physical mechanism responsible.

A Method for Extracting the Time Delay From the Unsteady and Quasi-Steady Fluidelastic Forces in Two-Phase Flow

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teguewinde Sawadogo ◽  
Njuki Mureithi
Keyword(s):  
Time Delay ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fluid Forces ◽  
Void Fractions ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Measured Time ◽  
Unsteady Fluid ◽  
Theoretical Results

The time delay is a key parameter for modeling fluidelastic instability, especially the damping controlled mechanism. It can be determined experimentally by measuring directly the time lag between the tube motion and the induced fluid forces. The fluid forces may be obtained by integrating the pressure field around the moving tube. However, this method faces certain difficulties in two-phase flow since the high turbulence and the non-uniformity of the flow may increase the randomness of the measured force. To overcome this difficulty, an innovative method for extracting the time delay inherent to the quasi-steady model for fluidelastic instability is proposed in this study. Firstly, experimental measurements of unsteady and quasi-static fluid forces (in the lift direction) acting on a tube subject to two-phase flow were conducted. The unsteady fluid forces were measured by exciting the tube using a linear motor. These forces were measured for a wide range of void fraction, flow velocities and excitation frequencies. The experimental results showed that the unsteady fluid forces could be represented as single valued function of the reduced velocity (flow velocity reduced by the excitation frequency and the tube diameter). The time delay was determined by equating the unsteady fluid forces with the quasi-static forces. The results given by this innovative method of measuring the time delay in two-phase flow were consistent with theoretical expectations. The time delay could be expressed as a linear function of the convection time and the time delay parameter was determined for void fractions ranging from 60% to 90%. Fluidelastic instability calculations were also performed using the quasi-steady model with the newly measured time delay parameter. Previously conducted stability tests provided the experimental data necessary to validate the theoretical results of the quasi-steady model. The validity of the quasi-steady model for two-phase flow was confirmed by the good agreement between its results and the experimental data. The newly measured time delay parameter has improved significantly the theoretical results, especially for high void fractions (90%). However, the model could not be verified for void fractions lower or equal to 50% due to the limitation of the current experimental setup. Further studies are consequently required to clarify this point. Nevertheless, this model can be used to simulate the flow induced vibrations in steam generators’ tube bundles as their most critical parts operate at high void fractions (≥ 60%).

Vibration of a Tube Bundle in Two-Phase Freon Cross-Flow

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Pettigrew ◽  
C. E. Taylor ◽  
J. H. Jong ◽  
I. G. Currie
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Density Ratio ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Void Fractions ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
First Results

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.

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