Thermowells are principally used with Thermocouples, RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors) and Bimetal Thermometers in applications where it is necessary to measure temperature at high pressure (above 75 psig) or in hostile environments. They are also used for isolation, so a sensor can be replaced without having to shut down the process. Thermowells are machined from solid barstock. Safe working pressures depend on the well material, operating temperature and the velocity of the flowing medium.

Thermo-Kinetics stocks a complete range of standard tapered, straight and reduced-tip thermowells to meet most applications. Flanged, Socket Weld, Van Stone, Ground Joint and Weld-in thermowells are also available. Special wells in various materials, sheaths and coatings meet unique requirements.

Thermowell Velocity Calculations

When fluid flows past a thermowell, low pressure vortices are formed in the wake downstream of  the well. These vortices shed from alternate sides of the well and the resulting differential pressure produces two periodic forces on the thermowell:

(i)  an oscillating-lift force, transverse to the fluid flow at frequency fs

(ii)  an oscillating-drag force, in-line with the fluid flow at frequency 2fs

Vortex shedding can occur at frequencies from 50Hz to 1500Hz. The vortex shedding frequency (Strouhal Frequency) increases linearly with fluid velocity, but the forces increase with the square of the velocity. When the Strouhal Frequency approaches the natural frequency of the thermowell, it can lock-in to the natural frequency causing resonance, with greatly magnified forces. To prevent lock-in, the natural frequency of the thermowell must be higher than either the in-line or the transverse resonance condition. Operation through the in-line resonance is acceptable only if the cyclic stresses at the resonance condition are acceptably small.

The fluid velocity at which resonance occurs is referred to as a velocity critical. There are two velocity criticals for each natural frequency of the thermowell: one describing the transverse and the other describing the in-line response. Since in-line force fluctuates at twice the frequency of the transverse force, the corresponding velocity critical is approximately one half that requires for transverse resonance. If the natural frequency of the thermowell overlaps either fs or 2fs, a large resonant buildup in vibration amplitude can occur. The major cause of thermowell failure is fatigue due to resonance. A high enough level of damping may allow the thermowell to operate at the in-line or even the transverse resonance frequencies.

In addition to frequency limits, the stresses within the thermowell and forces applied are also critical to evaluating  the suitability of a thermowell for a specific process application. The 4 quantitative criteria to be evaluated are:

1: Frequency Limit:

Resonant frequency of the thermowell must be sufficiently high so that destructive oscillations are not
excited by the fluid flow. The steady-state (s-s) fluid velocity should meet one of the following conditions:

                                    fs(s-s)  <  0.4•fn      OR   0.6•fn  <  fs(s-s)  <  0.8•fn

2: Static Stress Limit:

Steady-state stresses are the result of hydrostatic fluid pressure and non-oscillating drag forces on the
thermowell, and are calculated at the location of maximum stress. If the thermowell is partially shielded
or has a reduced tip, the calculation must be performed with those considerations. The maximum steady-
state stress on the thermowell at design velocity must not exceed the allowable stress as determined by
the Von Mises Criteria.

3: Dynamic Stress Limit:

Dynamic stresses are a result of the periodic drag forces that cause in-line oscillations and the periodic
lift forces that cause transverse oscillations. If the thermowell is intended to operate above the in-line
velocity critical, there are cyclic stresses at the in-line resonance to consider as it passes through that
point on the way to the design velocity. The maximum dynamic stress must not exceed the allowable
fatigue stress limit. The magnification factors are calculated and applied to the cyclical stress equations,
then the cyclic drag and lift forces are calculated at the design velocity. The maximum combined lift and
drag stress must not exceed the fatigue stress limit.

4: Hydrostatic Pressure Limit:

The external pressure must not exceed the minimum pressure rating of the thermowell tip, shank, or
flange (or threads) at the operating temperature.

Thermowell Standards

ASME PTC19.3-2016 is a revision to the thermowell Performance Test Code TW-2010, and was released in January 2016. It uses more advanced methods for evaluating the suitability of a thermowell for a specific application, and is applicable to tapered, straight and reduced-tip profiles.

Note: 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 from the program.  Use at your own risk.