On the stability of heat exchanger tube bundles, part II: Numerical results and comparison with experiments

Abstract

Theoretical stability threshold curves are determined for standard heat exchanger tube bundle geometries based on the first principles model developed in Part I. Over the range of mass-damping parameter relevant to practical heat exchangers, transverse dynamic instability is predicted to occur at lower reduced velocity than either streamwise or transverse static instabilities. No streamwise dynamic instability is predicted for any array by the current model. Quite good agreement is found with available experimental data, particularly for parallel triangular and square arrays. No empirical fluid force coefficients are required. An investigation into the sensitivity of the predicted threshold curves on variations in model parameters is also presented.