Technical information

Strength calculation for thermowells

WIKA data sheet IN 00.15

Applications
The wake frequency calculation for thermowells serves as

mathematical proof of the strength with respect to static and dynamic stress in relation to the operating temperature

Special features
Calculation per ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 or Dittrich/ Recommendations for structural changes to the thermo-

Klotter as an engineering service

well where the permissible stress limits are exceeded can be derived.

FEM representation of a thermowell in flow with stress representation at the tip and at the root

Description
The calculation per ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 is used for one-piece thermowells in tapered, straight or stepped designs from solid materials, such as Model TW10, TW15, TW20, etc. A calculation per Dittrich/Klotter is recommended for all thermowells in WIKAs portfolio, but especially for fabricated thermowells. The process data required to perform a calculation in accordance with both of the methods is as follows: SI unit
Flow rate Density of medium Temperature Pressure dynamic viscosity 1) m/s kg/m C bar mm/s

For recommendations concerning structural changes where the permissible stress limits have been exceeded, the following information will be required in addition:
Inside diameter of the adapter Height of the adapter Inner diameter and wall thickness of pipeline/vessel

Imperial
ft/s lb/ft F psi ft/1000s

Others
--------cP

1) Optional for ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010

WIKA data sheet IN 00.15 08/2011

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ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010

ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 is divided into dynamic and static calculation results. For gaseous media, the previous limit frequency, rmax = 0.8, from PTC 19.3-1974, is still valid. For liquid media, in many applications, the newly-introduced limit frequency of rmax = 0.4 for the in-line resonance applies.

Calculation methods per Dittrich/Klotter

For fabricated thermowells, the calculation method per Dittrich/Klotter must be used because this construction is not covered by ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010. The approach is based on calculating the stresses occurring under load. These are compared with the allowable stresses for the thermowell and safety factors.

In-line resonance: "Drag oscillation"

Main resonance: "Lift oscillation"

Remedies using structural changes, when the permissible frequency ratio, rmax , is exceeded
By exceeding the maximum permissible limit frequency, rmax, for the "In-line"- or main resonance, the following structural changes should be made: a) Shortening the insertion length This is the most effective method (and the recommended method from ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010) for the improvement of the frequency ratio r. b) Increasing the tip diameter By the enlargement of the tip diameter, the natural frequency fs is reduced, as well as an optimisation of the frequency ratio r. c) Support through an anchor Support of the thermowell through an anchor is generally not recommended by ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 Points 6-7-(e), and lies outside the scope of the ASME code. On customer request, an anchor can be used, in line with precise customer specifications and the process side thermowell components below the anchor connection will be designed in accordance with the design and calculation criteria of ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010, without, however, falling within the scope of ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010. The operator is responsible for the rigid support of the anchor in the adapter, which may mean that a reworking of the adapter is needed. On these grounds, a guarantee cannot be given by WIKA! Figure 1: Anchor support in adapter

rmax: 0.4 0.5

rmax: 0.8

r = fs/fn

The evaluation of the dynamic results is made using the damping factor NSC (the Scruton Number NSC has a direct relationship to the permissible frequency ratio rmax from the wake frequency fs to the natural frequency fn). For gaseous media, a characteristic value is NSC > 2.5; fluids typically have an NSC < 2.5.

NSC > 2.5

Strength Res < Strength Perm.

NSC < 2.5

rmax: 0.4 r = 0.5 In-line resonance rmax: 0.8 r=1

r = fs/fn

Main resonance

Whether the frequency ratio, r < 0.8, can also be used as an evaluation limit with liquid process media, is determined through a consideration of the permissible stresses in the thermowell material with respect to the actual stresses at resonance. In addition, an evaluation of the strength of the thermowell material with respect to the flexural fatigue stress in the area of the thermowell clamping is carried out. The static results of ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 are generated from the maximum permissible process pressure (dependent upon the process temperature and the geometry of the thermowell) and the bending stress in the area of the thermowell root. The bending stress is caused by the incident flow on the thermowell, and is dependent on the shielded length of the flange adapter.

Height of the adapter (HA)

Inside diameter of the adapter (IDA)

Flow

Welded 3-point anchor (Standard)

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WIKA data sheet IN 00.15 08/2011

3524951.01

In line with a customer specification, a welded or one-piece 3-point anchor, as well as a one-piece ring anchor can be used. With all variants, the exact anchor diameter and the applicable adapter height, for which a clearance fit is ensured, must be given by the customer. The anchor diameter is produced to customer specifications Figure 2: Possible build configurations for the anchors

with a tolerance of + 0.1 mm for a welded anchor, and with a tolerance of + 0.02 mm for a one-piece anchor. This can potentially mean a rework during assembly is required. The adjustment to a rigid seating, and the method chosen for this, are the sole responsibility of the operator.

Insertion length

Reduced length and anchor

A-A

B-B

C-C

Welded 3-point anchor (Standard)

One-piece 3-point anchor

One-piece ring beam

Design specifications to ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010

Description
Bore diameter d Tip diameter B Taper ratio B/A Insertion length L

tapered and straight designs Minimum Maximum

3.175 mm 9.2 mm 0.58 ----2 63.5 mm 20.9 mm 46.5 mm 1 ----------0.71 609.6 mm

stepped design Minimum

127 mm 6.1 mm -----

Maximum
609.6 mm 6.7 mm -----

Step ratio B/A for B = 12.7 mm Step ratio B/A for B = 22.2 mm Bore ratio d/B Cross-sectional ratio L/B Length ratio Ls/L Min. wall thickness (B-D)/d

0.5 --2 0

0.16 ---

0.583

0.8 -------

0.875

3 mm

3 mm

0.6

Marking
Insertion length Bore Tip Root

per ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010

L d

in WIKA data sheets

U B V

B A

If the thermowell dimensions, based on customer requirements or for specific applications, lie outside the requirements of ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010, the calculation results can only be used for informative purposes. Due to this reason a guarantee cannot be given by WIKA.

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11611855

Provision of calculation data

The examples in the following table show how the process and geometry data should be provided as an excel spreadsheet for further electronic processing by WIKA.

Sample table including calculation data for 6 measuring points Tag no.
TW-0301 TW-0303 TW-0305 TW-0307 TW-0309 TW-0311

in C

in bar

in m/s in kg/m in cP

rho

dynamic viscosity Model L

0.013 0.017 0.015 0.014 0.013 0.017 TW10 TW10 TW10 TW10 TW10 TW10

in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm EN

d
8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5

A
25 25 25 25 25 25

B
19 19 19 19 19 19

Tt

Material IDA
1.4435 1.4435 1.4435 1.4571 1.4571 1.4571

in mm in mm

HA

220 220 235 220 235 400

1.5 1.5 10 10 30 31.5

23.6 25.7 19.6 13 8.9 31.9

2.4 2.0 6.1 8.9 28.3 10.1

250 250 250 355 355 355

6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4

38.3 38.3 38.3 38.3 38.3 38.3

220 220 220 220 220 220

Legend: Tag no. T P v rho L d A B Tt IDA HA Model

Measuring point No. Temperature Pressure Flow rate Density of process medium Insertion length Bore size Root diameter Tip diameter Tip thickness Inside diameter of the adapter Height of the adapter WIKA thermowell model

2004 WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG, all rights reserved. The specifications given in this document represent the state of engineering at the time of publishing. We reserve the right to make modifications to the specifications and materials.

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WIKA data sheet IN 00.15 08/2011

08/2011 GB

WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG Alexander-Wiegand-Strae 30 63911 Klingenberg/Germany Tel. (+49) 9372/132-0 Fax (+49) 9372/132-406 E-mail info@wika.de www.wika.de