Simulation of Tube-to-Support Dynamic Interaction in Heat Exchange Equipment

Abstract

Tubes within tube and shell heat exchange components are supported at intermediate points by support plates. Flow-induced vibration of a tube can cause it to impact or rub against a support plate or against adjacent tubes and can result in tube fretting-wear. The tube-to-support dynamic interaction is used to relate experimental wear data from test rigs to real multi-span heat exchanger configurations. Analytical techniques are required to estimate this interaction in real heat exchangers. Simulation results from the VIBIC code are in good agreement with three examples from the open literature and are in reasonable agreement with measurements from the CRNL single-span room temperature fretting-wear rigs. Therefore, the VIBIC code is a good analytical tool for estimating tube-to-support dynamic interaction in real heat exchangers.

Numerical Investigation of Interaction Between Tubes and Loose Supports Caused by Turbulence-Induced Vibration in Steam Generators

“…The random fluid forces were transformed by the power spectral density (PSD) in references. 27,28 The representation of the turbulence forces utilized in this research is shown in Eq. (7).…”

“…Several contact models are proposed such as the force balanced friction model (FBFM), velocity limited friction model (VLFM) and spring damper friction model (SDFM) to investigate the vibration of loosely supported tubes. 18,19 Robert J. Rogers carried out simulation study based on VLFM model. 20,21 J. Antunes 22 studied loosely supported tubes under fluid-elastic instability and turbulence excitation through SDFM model.…”

“…M. Hassan [23][24][25] performed numerical simulations on the vibration of tubes against loose supports with the three models. In addition, The effect of supports types such as anti-vibration bars (AVBs), drilled circular hole (DCH), and trefoil orifice hole (TOH) has been investigated by Fisher ,Rogers and El Bouzidi, [26][27][28][29] the studies are performed in both FEI and turbulence buffeting situation. Nevertheless, the contact behavior of loose support is complex because the coupling of various parameters.…”

An investigation of impact-sliding behavior and fretting wear of tubes against different supports in steam generators

“…The root mean square (RMS) values of contact force were found to have an effect on the fretting wear. Fisher and Chow (1995) and Fisher et al (1989) performed fretting wear measurements on different material combinations and support-plate geometries. Through these research studies, the normal work rate model was proposed, in which the volume wear rate can be described as:…”

Study on the Fretting Wear Behavior and Mechanism of Nuclear Alloy 690 Tube

“…Initiation, stability, and growth characteristics of the damage caused by this mechanism are a function of a large number of variables including the support locations, the stiffness of the supports, the gap size between tube and support, secondary flow velocities and directions, and oxide layer characteristics. Fretting wear degradation was first identified as a concern in the early 1970s and has been noted to some degree in all major PWR steam generator designs in the world, and consequently Electric Power Research Institute, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, and Korea Electric Power Research Institute etc., have sponsored some projects to investigate the fretting wear behavior of steam generators tube [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15], however, no investigations have been carried out in China. So, it is emergent and necessary to study the fretting wear behavior of steam generators tube for the structural integrity evaluation and life prediction of steam generators in China.…”