ASME PTC 19.

3 TW-2010

Thermowells
Performance Test Codes

AN AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Three Park Avenue New York, NY 10016 USA

CONTENTS
Foreword ..............................................................................................................................................................................
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................................................
Committee Roster ................................................................................................................................................................
Correspondence With the PTC Committee .....................................................................................................................

v
v
vi
vii

Section 1
1-1
1-2

Object and Scope ....................................................................................................................................

Object ...............................................................................................................................................................
Scope ................................................................................................................................................................

1
1
1

Section 2

Nomenclature ..........................................................................................................................................

Section 3
3-1
3-2

Jurisdiction of Codes ...............................................................................................................................

Reference Standards and Governing Codes ..............................................................................................
Specification of Thermowells .......................................................................................................................

4
4
4

Section 4
4-1
4-2

Dimensions .............................................................................................................................................
Configurations ...............................................................................................................................................
Dimensional Limits .......................................................................................................................................

5
5
5

Section 5
5-1

Materials .................................................................................................................................................
General Considerations ................................................................................................................................

10
10

Section 6
6-1
6-2
6-3
6-4
6-5
6-6
6-7
6-8
6-9
6-10
6-11
6-12
6-13

Stress Equations .....................................................................................................................................

General Considerations ................................................................................................................................
Corrosion and Erosion ..................................................................................................................................
Flow-Induced Thermowell Stresses ............................................................................................................
Strouhal Number, Drag Coefficients, and Lift Coefficient ......................................................................
Natural Frequency of Thermowells ............................................................................................................
Mounting Compliance Factor ......................................................................................................................
Unsupported Length, Diameter, and Fillet Radius ..................................................................................
Frequency Limit .............................................................................................................................................
Magnification Factor .....................................................................................................................................
Bending Stresses ............................................................................................................................................
Pressure and Shear Stresses .........................................................................................................................
Steady-State Static and Dynamic Stress Limits .........................................................................................
Pressure Limit ................................................................................................................................................

11
11
11
12
13
14
15
16
18
21
21
24
24
27

Section 7
7-1
7-2
7-3
7-4
7-5
7-6
7-7
7-8
7-9
7-10

Overview of Calculations .........................................................................................................................

Quantitative Criteria .....................................................................................................................................
Fluid Properties ..............................................................................................................................................
Fluid Velocity .................................................................................................................................................
Material Properties and Dimensions ..........................................................................................................
Reynolds and Strouhal Numbers ................................................................................................................
Natural Frequency at Operation Temperature ..........................................................................................
Natural Frequency at Expected Mode of Operation ................................................................................
Steady-State and Dynamic Stresses ............................................................................................................
Allowable Fatigue Limits .............................................................................................................................
Pressure Rating ..............................................................................................................................................

28
28
28
28
28
29
29
29
29
29
29

Section 8
8-1
8-2

Examples .................................................................................................................................................
Tapered, Welded Thermowell for a Steam-Header Application (U.S. Customary Units) ..................
Step-Shank, Threaded Thermowell for a Hot Water Application (SI Units) .........................................

30
30
33

iii

Statement of Compliance ........................................................................................................................

Specification of a Thermowell .....................................................................................................................
Velocity and Pressure Ratings ......................................................................................................................

39
39
39

Section 10 References ..............................................................................................................................................

10-1
Referenced Documents .................................................................................................................................
10-2
Referenced ASME Documents .....................................................................................................................

40
40
40

Figures
4-1-1
4-1-2
4-1-3
4-1-4
6-3.1-1
6-6-1
6-8.1-1

6
7
8
9
12
17

Section 9
9-1
9-2

19

6-10.7-1
6-10.7-2
6-10.7-3

Schematic Diagram of a Thermowell ........................................................................................................

Examples of Straight-Shank Thermowells .................................................................................................
Examples of Step-Shank Thermowells .......................................................................................................
Examples of Tapered Thermowells .............................................................................................................
Fluid-Induced Forces and Assignment of Axes for Calculation of Thermowell Stresses ...................
Unsupported Length of Thermowells ........................................................................................................
Schematic Indicating Excitation of Resonances When Excitation Frequency Coincides
With the Thermowell Natural Frequency ..................................................................................................
Schematic Showing the Amplitude Response of a Thermowell Subjected to
Fluid-Induced Forces as Solid Lines, for In-Line and Transverse Excitation Modes ...........................
Bending Moment, Stress at the Support Plane, and Locations of Maximum
Steady-State or Oscillating In-Line Stress ..................................................................................................
Mounting of a Thermowell in an Elbow, With the Tip Facing Downstream ........................................
Geometry to Be Used in Calculation of Thermowell Ratings .................................................................
Mounting of a Thermowell in an Elbow, With the Tip Facing Upstream .............................................

Tables
4-1-1
4-2-1
6-5.3-1
6-12.3-1

Dimensional Limits for Straight and Tapered Thermowells Within the Scope of This Standard ......
Dimensional Limits for Step-Shank Thermowells Within the Scope of This Standard .......................
Parameters for Natural Frequency Calculation for Step-Shank Thermowells .....................................
Allowable Fatigue-Stress Amplitude Limits for Material Class A and Class B ....................................

7
8
15
26

Nonmandatory Appendix
A
Conversion Factors ........................................................................................................................................

41

6-8.1-2
6-10.1-1

iv

19
22
24
25
25