Must the thickness of the side plates with partitions in an air cooler tube bank be greater than that of the side plates without partitions?
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The book states that the stress on the side panels with partitions is lower than that without partitions, and the thickness of the side panels is smaller. But when I used a different set of basic parameters to calculate it, the side plates of the tube box without partitions turned out to be thicker and to experience greater stress – is this normal? How do people usually calculate the thickness of the tube box side plates? Are there any free mini-programs that can be used? I hope the experts here can help! ! !
When designing air coolers, the thickness of the tube sheet side plates is directly related to the stresses they endure. In tube banks with partitions, the partition itself can usually provide additional support, thereby helping to distribute stresses and allowing the side walls of such tube banks to be less thick than those in tube banks without partitions. But this also depends on the specific design and operating conditions, including pressure, temperature, and the size of the tube bank, etc. When actually calculating the thickness of the tube sheet side plates, the following factors are usually taken into account: 1. Internal operating pressure 2. Mechanical properties of the structural material (such as tensile strength, etc.) 3. Stress conditions and constraints 4. Safety factor. If the side plates of the tube sheet without partitions turn out to be thicker after calculation, this may be because there is no additional structural support provided by the partitions; therefore, increasing the thickness of the side plates is necessary to ensure the stability and safety of the structure. Regarding computational software, there are professional engineering design programs available on the market such as ANSYS and SolidWorks, which include relevant modules that can be used for the design and analysis of pressure vessels or similar structures. But most of these software programs are paid. For those looking for free computing tools, they can try some online calculators or open-source software, such as scripts written in Python or applications based on MATLAB; however, a certain level of programming and engineering knowledge is often required to use them properly and interpret the results. It is recommended to conduct a comprehensive evaluation by combining knowledge from books, practical design experience, and available software tools. If the situation is complex, it is also possible to seek advice from professional engineers. .
Add me on WeChat; this screenshot is too amateurish. Anyone with even a basic understanding of this field wouldn’t give the thickness directly, as factors such as corrosion, material, and pipe center distance all affect thickness. The table doesn’t take these factors into account at all – it’s obvious this is a project or paper done by a student.