TEMA Heat Exchanger Tube Mid-Span Deflection Calculator

Determine static beam deflection (δ) and dynamic vibration amplitude to ensure mid-span tube-to-tube collision clearance per TEMA Section 5 (VBR).

Tube Bundle Geometry & Drag Load

Unsupported Baffle Span L (mm):

Crossflow Velocity v_c (m/s):

Tube Outer Dia d_o (mm):

Tube Pitch P (mm):

Wall Thickness t (mm):

Elastic Modulus E (GPa):

Shell Fluid Density ρ_s (kg/m³):

Tube Drag Coefficient C_D: Standard bundle crossflow: C_D ≈ 0.6 - 1.0

Deflection & Collision Clearance

Static Drag Deflection (δ):

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Total Excursion (Static+Dyn):

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Allowable Clearance Margin:

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Tube Gap Clearance (P - d_o):

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TEMA Collision Safety Check:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is tube-to-tube mid-span collision catastrophic in shell-and-tube exchangers?

When crossflow drag and turbulent buffeting exceed clearance, adjacent tubes clash together thousands of times per minute at mid-span, rapidly fretting through the tube wall thickness and triggering catastrophic inter-stream contamination.

What is the TEMA Section 5 (VBR) 50% collision clearance rule?

TEMA requires that the combined static deflection and dynamic excursion of a tube not exceed 50% of the nominal gap between adjacent tubes (P - do), guaranteeing an air gap remains between tubes even during maximum transient swings.

How does unsupported baffle span length affect tube deflection?

Beam deflection scales with the 4th power of span length (δ ∝ L⁴). Reducing baffle spacing by just 20% slashes mid-span deflection by nearly 60% (0.8⁴ ≈ 0.41).