Prevention and Cure of Flow-Induced Vibration Problems in Tubular Heat Exchangers

Abstract

Various methods for predicting and solving tube and acoustic vibration problems in heat exchangers in cross flow are presented: the use of stability diagrams comprising in-service experience of heat exchangers, for a general multispan tube model; a method of selecting efficient baffle configurations for prevention of acoustic vibration, a new method of fin barriers, an alternative to conventional baffling; a new method of enhancing the vibration resistance of a tube bank based on the use of a helical spacer; these methods, singly or in combination, can be used to design against flow-induced vibration.