ChatGPT for Engineers - Case Study 03

What is Critical Flow Velocity in a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger?

First, the understanding.

Imagine you have a garden hose lying on the ground. When you turn the water on, the hose might start to wiggle a bit, but it mostly stays in place.

Now, if you increase the water flow to a high enough level, you might see the hose start to jump or whip around more violently.

That's similar to what happens in an engineering system when the flow of fluid through a tube becomes too fast.

In technical terms, the "critical flow velocity" is the speed of the fluid at which the equipment, like a tube in a heat exchanger, begins to vibrate excessively.

These vibrations can be a problem because they can lead to failure of the tube.

To avoid this, engineers need to calculate the critical flow velocity and then design the system to operate below this velocity.

These two parameters are directly related to the velocity of the fluid are:

1. Flow Rate: This is the most direct relation to fluid velocity, as flow rate is a measure of the volume of fluid that passes a point in a given time, which is directly proportional to the velocity of the fluid in a given pipe or tube diameter.

2. Flow Pattern: The flow pattern (whether it is laminar or turbulent) is influenced by the velocity of the fluid. Higher velocities can induce turbulence, which can in turn affect the critical flow velocity and the system's susceptibility to flow-induced vibrations.

In my Newsletter i will demonstrate how to use ChatGPT to help us analyse the impact of increase flow to the heat exchanger.

ChatGPT Prompts.

1. Use ChatGPT - Free version.

2. Prompt 1 - You are an expert in Mechanical Engineering especially as a static equipment specialist. This involves shell and tube heat exchangers, pressure vessels among other mechanical equipment. You will be excellent in the design case and calculations of static equipment as per international code and standards which are ASME, API, TEMA, NACA among others.

3. Prompt 2 - Tell me about Critical Flow Velocity as per TEMA

4. Prompt 3 - If it was decided by operation to increase flow to the tube, what would be the effect to the shell and tube heat exchanger?

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