Heat-Transfer Tube Bundle Damping Structure for In-Plane Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vibration damping structures for heat-transfer tube bundles are ineffective in suppressing in-plane vibrations due to insufficient contact force, which can lead to wear and reduced damping performance, especially when manufacturing errors and fluid-induced vibrations occur.

Innovation Solution

The proposed vibration damping structure employs first and second vibration damping members with increased thicknesses, positioned at different axial locations, to apply a controlled contact force through bending deformation, ensuring effective suppression of in-plane vibrations and maintaining performance despite wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the thickness of the vibration damping member is increased to apply contact force to suppress in-plane vibration, then vibration damping performance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase and wear resistance becomes more critical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damping performanceVSAvoidthickness control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the thickness parameter of the vibration damping member from being equal to or slightly smaller than the tube clearance to being larger than the clearance. This parameter change enables the damping member to apply contact force to the tube, effectively suppressing in-plane vibration while accounting for manufacturing errors in the tube bundle assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the vibration damping member thickness is adjusted to apply contact force, then in-plane vibration is suppressed, but wear increases due to collision and sliding in gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration suppression effectivenessVSAvoidwear from collision and sliding
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the vibration damping member with thickness larger than the clearance to maintain continuous contact force on the tube. This prevents the tube from developing excessive gaps that would lead to severe collision and sliding wear during operation, thereby reducing wear while maintaining vibration suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for precise adjustment of contact force and maintains vibration damping performance even with wear, effectively suppressing in-plane vibrations and ensuring stability across the heat-transfer tube bundle.

Implementation Method 1

to apply a contact force through bending deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBending deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3457065B1Vibration damping structure for heat transfer tube group
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP3457065B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3457065B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3457065B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The preset application relates to a vibration damping structure for a heat-transfer tube bundle including columns arranged at an interval and each composed of a plurality of heat-transfer tubes curved in a common plane and arranged in parallel to each other. The vibration damping structure includes a first vibration damping member and a second vibration damping member disposed between the columns so as to intersect the array direction of the columns. The first vibration damping member and the second vibration damping member are disposed at different positions in an axial direction of each heat-transfer tube, and thicknesses of the first vibration damping member and the second vibration damping member in the array direction are larger than an average value of a clearance between the columns under operation.