THERMOWELL VIBRATION

When fluid flows past a thermowell, the change in fluid momentum creates
a turbulent wake behind the well. Vortices form in this wake, and shed from
alternate sides of the well. The vortex shedding frequency (or Wake
frequency) is linear with flow velocity and inversely proportional to
thermowell tip diameter.

These shedding vortices impose on the thermowell, a periodic force

comprising two components (i) a lift force, normal to direction of flow,
oscillating at the wake frequency, and (ii) a smaller drag force, parallel to
flow, oscillating at twice the wake frequency.

These vortex-induced forces, which cause thermowell vibration, are

normally small with the magnitude of the vibrations generally negligible.
However, as the wake frequency (fw) approaches the natural frequency (fn)
of the thermowell (within 20%), it can shift and lock-in to the natural
frequency. When fw = fn, the thermowell goes into resonance, and vibrating
forces increase rapidly. The resultant vibrations can cause mechanical
failure of the well.

The Murdock calculations (and companion ASME PTC 19.3) consider only
the oscillating lift force as the cause of thermowell vibration. The ratio of
wake to natural frequency is restricted to a maximum of 0.8 to eliminate the
possibility of resonance.
Although the oscillating drag force is small, it can force the thermowell into
resonance at lower velocities because it occurs at twice the wake
frequency. For high-density fluids (liquids and high pressure steam), the
Murdock analysis is not adequate. When the oscillating drag component is
included, the velocity rating can be reduced by up to 50%.

The calculations included herein are modified to include in-line resonance

due to the oscillating drag force, correction for the magnification ratio and
use of the actual natural frequency of the well rather than the estimated
value.

The results of these calculations should only be used as a guide in the

selection of the correct thermowell. Other variables, like corrosion, should
be evaluated and influence the decision.
 Thermowell Velocity Rating
(Program Ver. 4.2a)

Company: Tag #:
Project No: Date:
Reference: Rev:

d
A

FLUID DATA CONSTANTS

Fluid Air Kf 2.01 t/A 0.01
Operating Temperature To 2200 F K1 0.079 t/B 0.01
Operating Pressure Po 200 psig K2 15.7 FA 3.5
Fluid Velocity V 85 ft/sec K3 2.679 FB 3.5
v 4.586 ft3/lb

WELL DATA CALCULATIONS

Well Material 304 Natural Frequency @ To fn 424 Hz
Unsupported Length U 10.00 in Wake Frequency fw 299 Hz
Bore Diameter d 0.500 in Frequency Ratio r 0.71
Tip Diameter B 0.750 in Magnification Factor Fm 1.99
Root Diameter A 0.760 in Max Length @ V (r=0.8) Um 10.6 in
Specific Weight @ To w 0.112 lb/in3 Max Velocity @ U (r=0.8) Vm 96 ft/sec
Mod of Elasticity @ To E 50.0 psi x 10 6
Max Static Pressure Pm 3167 psig
Allowable Stress @ To S 40.0 psi x 103 Max Stress Length Ls 40.32 in
Max Stress Velocity Vs 342.8 fps

NOTES

Wall thickness is less than recommended

Well taper is less than recommended

These calculations are performed according to the paper "Power Test Code Thermometer Wells" by J. W. Murdock, and also
meet the requirements of ASME PTC 19.3-1998. The program supplies results which should only be used as a guide for
thermowell design. Thermo-Kinetics assumes no responsibility for failure of a well based on the results of these calculations,
and accepts no liability direct or consequential, arising from error or misinformation supplied herein, or due to program misuse.
 TABLES

SPECIFIC WEIGHT (lb/in3)

Material Code 70F 700F 900F 1100F 1300F 1500F
C.Steel 105 0.284 0.280 0.279 0.278
304 SS 304 0.290 0.286 0.285 0.284 0.283 0.281
310 SS 310 0.290 0.286 0.285 0.284 0.283 0.281
316 SS 316 0.290 0.286 0.285 0.284 0.283 0.281
FLUID VELOCITY CALCULATED from FLOW DATA 321 SS 321 0.290 0.286 0.285 0.284 0.283 0.281
446 SS 446 0.270 0.267 0.266 0.264 0.263
Fluid Air V = 3.0558Q/ID F22 SS F22 0.290 0.286 0.285 0.284 0.283 0.281
Pipe I.D. ID 2.000 in Hast B-3 HSB-3 0.334 0.330 0.328 0.326 0.325 0.324
Flow Rate Q 10.0 SCFM Hast C-22 HSC-22 0.323 0.319 0.317 0.316 0.314 0.313
Velocity V 7.6 ft/sec Hast C-276 HSC-276 0.323 0.319 0.317 0.316 0.314 0.313
Hast C-4 HSC-4 0.323 0.319 0.317 0.316 0.314 0.313
Hast X HSX 0.297 0.293 0.291 0.290 0.289 0.287
Inconel INC 0.307 0.302 0.300 0.299 0.297 0.296
Specific Volume of Water (ft3/lb) (T in F) Monel MON 0.319 0.313 0.311 0.308 0.306
1 60 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Nickel NIK 0.322 0.316 0.315 0.313 0.311 0.309
0.016 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.024 0.037 Titanium TIT 0.163 0.162 0.161

MODULUS of ELASTICITY (x 106 psi)

Material UNS# Code 70F 200F 300F 400F 500F 600F 700F 800F 900F 1000F 1100F 1200F 1300F 1400F 1500F
C.Stl SA-675 105 29.5 28.8 28.3 27.7 27.3 26.7 25.5 24.2 22.4 20.4 18.0
HR160 N12160 160 30.6 29.8 29.4 29.1 28.6 28.3 27.8 27.2 26.6 26.0 25.6 24.9 24.3 23.6 22.8
304 SS S30400 304 28.3 27.7 27.1 26.6 26.1 25.4 24.8 24.1 23.4 22.7 22.0 21.3 20.7 19.3 17.9
310 SS S31008 310 28.3 27.7 27.1 26.6 26.1 25.4 24.8 24.1 23.4 22.7 22.0 21.3 20.7 19.3 17.9
316 SS S31600 316 28.3 27.7 27.1 26.6 26.1 25.4 24.8 24.1 23.4 22.7 22.0 21.3 20.7 19.3 17.9
321 SS S32100 321 28.3 27.7 27.1 26.6 26.1 25.4 24.8 24.1 23.4 22.7 22.0 21.3 20.7 19.3 17.9
446 SS S44627 446 29.2 28.7 28.3 27.7 27.0 26.0 24.8 23.1 21.1 18.6 15.6 12.2
F22 SS K21590 F22 30.6 29.8 29.4 28.8 28.3 27.7 27.1 26.3 25.6 24.6 23.7 22.5 21.1 19.4
Hast B-3 N10675 HSB-3 31.4 30.6 30.1 29.8 29.3 29.0 28.6 27.9 27.3 26.7 26.2 25.6 25.0 24.2 23.4
Hast C-22 N06022 HSC-22 29.9 29.2 28.7 28.4 28.0 27.7 27.2 26.6 26.0 25.4 25.0 24.4 23.8 23.0 22.3
Hast C-276 N10276 HSC-276 29.8 29.1 28.6 28.3 27.9 27.6 27.1 26.5 25.9 25.3 24.9 24.3 23.7 22.9 22.2
Hast C-4 N06455 HSC-4 29.8 29.1 28.6 28.3 27.9 27.6 27.1 26.5 25.9 25.3 24.9 24.3 23.7 22.9 22.2
Hast X N06002 HSX 28.5 27.8 27.4 27.1 26.6 26.4 25.9 25.4 24.8 24.2 23.7 23.2 22.6 21.9 21.2
Inconel N06690 INC 30.3 29.5 29.1 28.8 28.3 28.1 27.6 27.0 26.4 25.8 25.3 24.7 24.1 23.3 22.6
Monel N04400 MON 26.0 25.4 25.0 24.7 24.3 24.1 23.7 23.1 22.6 22.1 21.7 21.2 20.7 20.0 19.4
Nickel N02200 NIK 30.0 29.3 28.8 28.5 28.1 27.8 27.3 26.7 26.1 25.5 25.1 24.5 23.9 23.1 22.4
Titanium R50400 TIT 15.5 15.0 14.6 14.0 13.3 12.6 11.9 11.2

ALLOWABLE STRESS (x 103 psi)

Material UNS# Code 70F 200F 300F 400F 500F 600F 700F 800F 900F 1000F 1100F 1200F 1300F 1400F 1500F
C.Steel SA-675 105 14.3 14.3 14.3 14.2 13.6 12.8 11.9 9.4 5.0
HR160 N12160 160 23.3 20.5 18.3 16.5 15.0 14.1 13.6 13.5 13.5 13.5 11.0 7.5 5.1 3.6 2.5
304 SS S30400 304 20.0 16.7 15.0 13.8 12.9 12.3 11.7 11.2 10.8 10.4 9.8 6.1 3.7 2.3 1.4
310 SS S31008 310 20.0 17.6 16.1 15.1 14.3 13.7 13.3 12.9 12.5 9.9
316 SS S31600 316 20.0 17.3 15.6 14.3 13.3 12.6 12.1 11.8 11.5 11.3 11.1 7.4 4.1 2.3 1.3
321 SS S32100 321 20.0 18.0 16.5 15.3 14.3 13.5 13.0 12.6 12.3 12.0 6.9 3.6 1.7 0.8 0.3
446 SS S44627 446 18.6 18.5 18.3 18.2 18.1 18.0 17.9
F22 SS K21590 F22 21.4 21.4 20.9 20.6 20.5 20.4 20.0 19.3 15.8 7.8 3.2 1.2
Hast B-3 N10675 HSB-3 31.4 31.4 30.3 28.8 27.4 26.3 25.4 24.8
Hast C-22 N06022 HSC-22 28.6 26.7 24.6 22.9 21.5 20.4 19.6 19.0 18.6 18.3 17.5 9.6
Hast C-276 N10276 HSC-276 27.3 24.9 23.0 21.3 19.9 18.7 17.8 17.1 16.7 16.5 15.0 9.8
Hast C-4 N06455 HSC-4 26.7 24.6 23.0 21.7 20.8 20.1 19.6 19.1
Hast X N06002 HSX 23.3 21.0 19.2 17.7 16.5 15.7 15.1 14.7 14.5
Inconel N06690 INC 23.3 21.1 19.9 19.1 18.6 18.4 18.2 18.0
Monel N04400 MON 16.7 14.6 13.6 13.4 13.2 13.1 13.0 12.7 8.0
Nickel N02200 NIK 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
Titanium R50400 TIT 14.3 12.4 10.3 8.8 7.6 6.5

CONVERSION FACTORS DENSITY of LIQUIDS (lb/ft3) DENSITY of GASES at STP (60 F & 14.7 psia) (lb/ft3)
From To X Water 62.4 Caustic Soda (30%) 82.3 Air 0.0764 Hydrogen H2 0.006
m ft 3.281 Sea Water 64.2 Caustic Soda (50%) 95.4 Acetylene C2H2 0.073 Hydrogen Chloride HCl 0.095
mm in 0.03937 Amyl Alcohol 55.0 H2SO4 (100%) 114.7 Ammonia NH3 0.044 Hydrogen Sulphide H2S 0.096
m/s ft/s 3.281 Butyl Alcohol 45.3 H2SO4 (20%) 71.0 Argon Ar 0.103 Methane CH4 0.045
m3/kg ft3/lb 16.018 Benzine 56.0 Nitric Acid (95%) 93.5 Butane C4H10 0.162 Methyl Chloride CH3Cl 0.133
Mpa psi 145.04 Gasoline 42.0 Nitric Acid (7%) 64.7 Butylene C4H8 0.148 Nitrogen N2 0.075
Kpa psi 0.145 Kerosine 50.5 HCl (10%) 66.5 Carbon Dioxide CO2 0.113 Nitric Oxide NO 0.078
g/cc lb/in3 0.03613 Carbon Monoxide CO 0.078 Nitrous Oxide N2O 0.114
kg/m3 lb/ft3 0.06243 Chlorine Cl2 0.184 Oxygen O2 0.082
USGPM IGPM 0.8327 Gas Density Calculation (STP = 60F & 14.7 psia) Ethane C2H6 0.081 Pentane C5H12 0.088
Density (@ STP) To (F) Po (psig) Dens (@To/Po) Ethylene C2H4 0.073 Propane C3H8 0.118
0.113 60 0 0.113 Helium He 0.010 Sulphur Dioxide SO2 0.179
 PIPE DIMENSIONS

Pipe Inside Diameter - inches (Welded & Seamless Steel Pipe)

Size O.D.
SCHEDULE
5S 10S 10 20 30 STD 40 60 XH 80 100 120 140 160 XXH
1/2" 0.840 0.710 0.674 0.674 0.622 0.622 0.546 0.546 0.466 0.252
3/4" 1.050 0.920 0.884 0.884 0.824 0.824 0.742 0.742 0.612 0.434
1" 1.315 1.185 1.097 1.097 1.049 1.049 0.957 0.957 0.815 0.599
1-1/4 1.660 1.530 1.442 1.442 1.380 1.380 1.278 1.278 1.160 0.896
1-1/2 1.900 1.770 1.682 1.682 1.610 1.610 1.500 1.500 1.338 1.100
2 2.375 2.245 2.157 2.157 2.067 2.067 1.939 1.939 1.687 1.503
2-1/2 2.875 2.709 2.635 2.635 2.469 2.469 2.323 2.323 2.125 1.771
3 3.500 3.334 3.260 3.260 3.068 3.068 2.900 2.900 2.624 2.300
3-1/2 4.000 3.834 3.760 3.760 3.548 3.548 3.364 3.364
4 4.500 4.334 4.260 4.260 4.026 4.026 3.826 3.826 3.624 3.438 3.152
5 5.563 5.345 5.295 5.295 5.047 5.047 4.813 4.813 4.563 4.313 4.063
6 6.625 6.407 6.357 6.357 6.065 6.065 5.761 5.761 5.501 5.189 4.897
8 8.625 8.407 8.329 8.329 8.125 8.071 7.981 7.981 7.813 7.625 7.625 7.437 7.187 7.001 6.813 6.875
10 10.750 10.482 10.420 10.420 10.250 10.090 10.020 10.020 9.750 9.560 9.562 9.312 9.062 8.750 8.500 9.750
12 12.750 12.438 12.390 12.390 12.250 12.090 12.000 11.938 11.626 11.750 11.374 11.062 10.750 10.500 10.126 11.750
14 14.000 13.688 13.624 13.500 13.250 13.376 13.250 13.124 12.812 13.000 12.500 12.124 11.812 11.500 11.188
16 16.000 15.670 15.624 15.500 15.500 15.376 15.250 15.000 14.688 15.000 14.312 14.938 13.562 13.124 12.812
18 18.000 17.670 17.500 17.500 15.376 17.124 17.250 16.876 16.500 17.000 16.126 15.688 15.250 14.876 14.438
20 20.000 19.624 19.500 19.500 19.250 19.000 19.250 18.814 18.376 19.000 17.938 17.567 17.000 16.500 16.064
22 22.000 21.624 21.624 21.500 21.250 21.000 21.250 20.250 21.000 19.750 19.250 18.750 18.250 17.750
24 24.000 23.572 23.500 23.500 23.250 22.876 23.250 22.626 22.064 23.000 21.564 20.938 20.376 19.876 19.314
26 26.000 25.376 25.000 22.876 25.750 25.000
28 28.000 27.376 27.000 26.750 27.750 27.000
30 30.000 29.500 29.376 29.376 29.000 28.750 29.750 29.000
32 32.000 31.376 31.000 30.750 31.750 30.624 31.000
34 34.000 33.376 33.000 32.750 33.750 32.624 33.000
36 36.000 29.376 35.376 35.000 34.750 35.750 34.500 35.000
42 42.000 41.750 41.000
 THERMOWELL VELOCITY RATING

STEAM TABLES (extracted from ASME Steam Tables for Industrial Use, 1997 Edition)
Specific Volume (ft3/lb) (w)
Pressure Temperature (F)
(psia) 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500
10 0.016 38.85 44.99 51.04 57.04 63.03 69.01 74.98 80.95 86.92 92.88 98.84 104.8 110.76 116.72
15 0.016 0.017 29.90 33.96 37.99 41.99 45.98 49.96 53.95 57.93 61.91 65.88 69.86 73.83 77.81
20 0.016 0.017 22.36 25.43 28.46 31.47 34.47 37.46 40.45 43.44 46.42 49.41 52.39 55.37 58.36
25 0.016 0.017 17.86 20.34 22.78 25.20 27.60 30.01 32.40 34.80 37.19 39.58 41.98 44.37 46.76
30 0.016 0.017 14.81 16.89 18.93 20.95 22.95 24.95 26.95 28.94 30.94 32.93 34.92 36.95 38.90
35 0.016 0.017 12.65 14.45 16.21 17.94 19.66 21.38 23.09 24.80 26.51 28.22 29.93 31.63 33.34
40 0.016 0.017 11.04 12.62 14.17 15.67 17.20 18.70 20.20 21.70 23.19 24.69 26.18 27.68 29.17
45 0.016 0.017 9.782 11.21 12.58 13.94 15.28 16.62 17.96 19.29 20.62 21.95 23.28 24.61 25.94
50 0.016 0.017 8.769 10.06 11.31 12.53 13.74 14.95 16.15 17.35 18.55 19.75 20.94 22.14 23.33
65 0.016 0.017 6.678 7.698 8.667 10.18 10.55 11.49 12.41 13.34 14.26 15.19 16.11 17.03 17.95
75 0.016 0.017 0.017 6.645 7.494 8.320 9.135 9.945 10.75 11.55 12.36 13.16 13.95 14.75 15.55
100 0.016 0.017 0.017 4.936 5.588 6.217 6.834 7.446 8.053 8.658 9.260 9.862 10.46 11.06 11.66
200 0.016 0.017 0.017 2.361 2.725 3.059 3.379 3.693 4.003 4.310 4.615 4.918 5.221 5.522 5.823
250 0.016 0.017 0.017 1.861 2.154 2.430 2.693 2.948 3.198 3.446 3.692 3.936 4.179 4.421 4.663
300 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.019 1.767 2.005 2.227 2.442 2.653 2.861 3.066 3.270 3.474 3.676 3.878
400 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.019 1.285 1.477 1.651 1.817 1.978 2.136 2.292 2.446 2.600 2.753 2.905
500 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.019 0.993 1.159 1.304 1.441 1.573 1.701 1.827 1.952 2.076 2.199 2.321
600 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.019 0.795 0.946 1.073 1.190 1.302 1.411 1.518 1.623 1.726 1.830 1.932
675 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.693 0.829 0.946 1.053 1.154 1.252 1.347 1.441 1.534 1.627 1.718
700 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.019 0.020 0.793 0.908 1.011 1.109 1.204 1.296 1.387 1.477 1.566 1.654
800 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.019 0.020 0.678 0.783 0.877 0.964 1.048 1.130 1.211 1.290 1.368 1.446
900 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.019 0.020 0.587 0.686 0.771 0.850 0.926 1.000 1.072 1.143 1.213 1.283
1000 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.019 0.020 0.514 0.609 0.688 0.761 0.831 0.898 0.963 1.028 1.091 1.154
1200 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.019 0.020 0.402 0.491 0.562 0.626 0.686 0.743 0.798 0.853 0.906 0.959
1400 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.318 0.406 0.472 0.529 0.582 0.632 0.681 0.728 0.774 0.820
1550 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.272 0.357 0.420 0.473 0.522 0.568 0.613 0.656 0.699 0.740
1600 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.024 0.342 0.403 0.456 0.503 0.548 0.592 0.634 0.677 0.716
1800 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.023 0.291 0.350 0.399 0.443 0.484 0.524 0.562 0.599 0.635
2000 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.023 0.249 0.307 0.353 0.394 0.432 0.468 0.503 0.537 0.570
2500 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.023 0.169 0.230 0.272 0.308 0.340 0.370 0.399 0.427 0.454
3000 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.023 0.098 0.176 0.216 0.249 0.277 0.304 0.329 0.353 0.376
3100 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.023 0.092 0.167 0.208 0.240 0.268 0.293 0.318 0.341 0.364
3500 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.023 0.031 0.136 0.176 0.207 0.233 0.256 0.278 0.300 0.320
4000 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.022 0.029 0.105 0.146 0.175 0.199 0.221 0.241 0.260 0.279
5000 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.020 0.022 0.027 0.059 0.104 0.131 0.153 0.172 0.189 0.205 0.220
7500 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.019 0.021 0.025 0.032 0.051 0.074 0.092 0.107 0.121 0.133 0.144
10000 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.018 0.019 0.021 0.023 0.027 0.036 0.050 0.063 0.076 0.087 0.096 0.105
15000 0.016 0.016 0.017 0.017 0.018 0.019 0.022 0.024 0.028 0.034 0.041 0.048 0.055 0.062 0.069