Noise and Vibration Analysis of a Heat Exchanger: a Case Study

Abstract

Flow-induced vibration of heat-exchanger tube bundles often causes serious damage, resulting in reduced efficiency and high maintenance costs. The excitation mechanism of flow-induced vibration is classified as vortex shedding, acoustical resonance, turbulent buffeting, or fluid-elastic instability. This paper aims to identify the mechanism that causes flow-induced vibration in a specific heat-exchanger tube bundle with cross-flow and proposes a solution to this problem. This case is investigated through acceleration and sound pressure level measurements. Moreover, finite-element models are developed to view the acoustic models of the cavity and vibration modes of the tubes and plates. The layout pattern of the tube array, the spacing ratio, the Strouhal number, and the flow characteristics are used to determine the excitation mechanism.

Analysis and Characterization of Noise Generated in Heavy-Haul Railways in Brazil

“…Despite the convenience and advances provided by technological development, environmental degradation is accelerating as other sources of pollution arise. Amongst them, the environmental noise caused by sirens, automotive and domestic alarms, religious temples, horns, transportation systems and other sources, has become a cause of incidents in urban areas (Zannin and Bunn 2014;Fiorentin et al 2013Fiorentin et al , 2016Fiorentin et al , 2017. As a result of urbanization, economic growth and motorized traffic, noise pollution is one of the main sources of complaints in urban areas since it can be detrimental to health, being associated to hearing damage, cardiovascular diseases, irritability, sleep disturbance, headaches, high blood pressure and nervous stress reactions (Stassen et al 2008;Sánchez et al 2017).…”