Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers - Flow Induced Vibration

[Angsi]

Will someone please advise me if Flow Induced Vibration Analysis for shell and tube heat exchangers is performed as a routine mechanical calculation for the equipment or if it is performed only with a special request? Is a specialist engineering contractor required for this "highly complex" analysis?

Anyone with the experience, please also share with me how the results affect exchanger design i.e. besides additional/relocation of baffle support plates for the tubes, are there normally any other recommendations made?

Has anyone got the experience of designing a gas cooler shell and tube exchanger with slugging problems? Besides relocating the inlet pipe away from the tube/impingement plates, what other engineering precautions were taken?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rmw]

I can only speak on a general basis, but I would say that vibration calculations are not done in every case unless specifically called out by specification.

Hx designers, once they become familiar with the various tubing metallurgies and fluids that their Hx's are handling develop standards around support plate and baffle spacings that will prevent vibrations in the common applications, and won't do a vibration calculation unless something off the wall is encountered.

Some organizations such as HEI and others develop standards for their members to use that have taken design parameters into account, and which provide a good conservative design basis for the users of Hx's designed to their standards.

Some manufacturers who have to deal with this phenomina on a routine basis have the capability to do it in house with their own tools, while others might have to seek the assistance of outside sources on the rare occasions they encounter it.

Your second question is touched on in the above answer. The issue of vibration is dealt with by metallurgical choices, spacing of supports and baffles, and if vibratin is encountered after the fact, staking of tube bundles with suitable materials to dampen the vibrations.

I can't touch your third question. Others on this forum surely can.

rmw

 

[PAN]

I used to see the requirement of comprehensive check with HTRI or HTFS computer program for all exchangers in a project.

See also the comments in related threads :

Exchanger Sizing
thread391-4241

Software for Heat Exchanger Design
thread391-53702

 

[abmech]

If you use standard design software like HTRI, HTFS, B-jac then FIV analysis is automatically performed along with Thermal analysis.
I think both thermal as well as FIV analysis shall be performed for all cases as both are interdependent.