Vibration analysis of shell-and-tube heat exchangers: an overview—Part 1: flow, damping, fluidelastic instability

Design guidelines were developed to prevent tube failures due to excessive flow-induced vibration in shell-and-tube heat exchangers. An overview of vibration analysis procedures and recommended design guidelines is presented in this paper. This paper pertains to liquid, gas and two-phase heat exchangers such as nuclear steam generators, reboilers, coolers, service water heat exchangers, condensers, and moisture-separator-reheaters. Generally, a heat exchanger vibration analysis consists of the following steps: (i) flow distribution calculations, (ii) dynamic parameter evaluation (i.e. damping, effective tube mass, and dynamic stiffness), (iii) formulation of vibration excitation mechanisms, (iv) vibration response prediction, and (v) resulting damage assessment (i.e., comparison against allowables). The requirements applicable to each step are outlined in this paper. Part 1 of this paper covers flow calculations, dynamic parameters and fluidelastic instability.