RB1-11 Vibration Test of Simulated U-Tube Bundle with Exit Nozzle Inside of U-Bend Tangent

J. M. Chenoweth

1985

Many U-tube heat exchangers have a full baffle at the tangent point of the U-bend and the shellside nozzle inside that point to reduce the probability of flow-induced vibration problems. Although there is no flow across the U-bend region, it is usually flooded with the shellside fluid. A test simulating this configuration was performed to determine the effect on flow-induced tube vibration. It was demonstrated that for design purposes, when U-bends are isolated from the shellside flow, they do not vibrate nor lower the susceptibility of their straight tube portions to vibration. Therefore, they need not be considered when making a vibration analysis.