Effect of Flow Regime and Void Fraction on Tube Bundle Vibration

Two-phase cross flow occurs in industrial heat exchangers such as condensers, boilers, and steam generators. Under certain flow regimes and fluid velocities, the fluid forces result in tube vibration and possibly tube damage due to fretting or fatigue. Prediction of these fluid forces requires an understanding of the flow regimes found in heat exchanger tube bundles. Measurements of void fraction within a tube array were taken as an initial step in determining the two-phase flow patterns. The tests were conducted in a Freon 134a test loop at about 1 MPa and 30°C. The measurements were compared against void fraction models commonly used in heat exchanger thermalhydraulic simulation codes and against available flow regime maps. Not surprisingly, the results indicate that a drift-flux model more accurately predicts the void fraction within a tube array. The measurements also confirm the existence of nonuniform void fraction radially around the tube. Based on these measurements and available literature, appropriate void fraction models for use in flow-induced vibration design guidelines are discussed