An investigation of peripheral gap and open lane effects on flow-induced vibrations of tube bundles

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in a wind tunnel to study open lane and peripheral gap effects in heat exchanger tube bundles subjected to cross flow. A rotated triangular array of tubes was tested to obtain critical velocities for uniform flow instability. By removing different rows of tubes, critical velocities for nonuniform flow caused by open lanes and peripheral gaps were recorded. Also, theoretical correction factors due to open lanes and peripheral gaps were developed to predict the critical velocities for nonuniform flow. The correction factor can be multiplied by the critical velocity predictions from existing models for uniform cross-flow. Correlations of the analytical model with experimental data are good.