Flow-induced vibrations in heat exchanger tube bundles

A review is given of the most important parameters which have to be evaluated for designing real heat exchangers to withstand flow-induced vibrations. After a short description of the mechanism of excitation, stability diagrams for fluid elastic instability are discussed. The influence of non-uniform velocities in multispan exchangers and a sectional calculation of stability relations is explained by an example using a fluid-dynamic computer program. Some recommendations for structural data and design details are offered in conclusion