ASME PTC19.

3 TW- 2010
Thermowell design standard
ABB
Month DD, YYYY | Slide 1

Introduction to thermowell stress calculation

ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 was written to replace ASME PTC 19.3-1974 following
some catastrophic failures in non-steam service, these thermowells passed
the criteria laid out in 1974.
The 2010 standard includes significant advances in the knowledge of
thermowell behaviour. ASME PTC TW-2010 evaluates thermowell suitability
new and improved calculations including:

Various thermowell designs including stepped thermowells

Thermowell material properties

Detailed process information

Review of the acceptable limit for frequency ratio

Steady-state, dynamic and pressure stresses

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 2

Failure of a thermowell
In

1995 a thermowell failed in the secondary coolant loop of

the Monju fast breeder reactor in Japan.
The

failure closed the plant for 15 years

The

thermowell was designed to ASME PTC 19.3 1974

The

failure was found to be due to the drag resonance induced

on the thermowell by the liquid sodium coolant

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 3

Stresses on a Thermowell
Thermowells protect temperature sensors from direct contact with the
process media. But once inserted into the process, the thermowell can
obstruct flow around it, leading to a drop in pressure. This
phenomenon creates low pressure vortices downstream of the
thermowell.
These vortices occur at one side of the
thermowell and then the other, which is
known as alternating vortex shedding.

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 4

Thermowell stress location

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 5

The thermowell is an unsupported beam and as such the

stresses concentrate at the root of the stem

Frequency Ratio
X

Vortex shedding causes the

thermowell to vibrate.
Y
Flow Direction

If this vortex shedding rate (fs)

matches the natural frequency
(fnc ) of the thermowell, resonance
occurs, and dynamic bending
stress on the thermowell greatly
increases

Forces created by the media in the Y plane (in-line with flow) are called drag and
forces created in the X plane (transverse to flow) are called lift
The vortex shedding rate for the drag and lift must be calculated.

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 6

Frequency Ratio Limit

The frequency ratio (fs / fnc ) is the ratio between the vortex shedding rate and the
installed natural frequency. In the old standard, the frequency ratio limit was set
to 0.8. This was to avoid the critical resonance caused by the transverse (lift)
forces
Following the inclusion of the inline (drag) forces, a second
resonance band may also need to
be avoided

The transverse
resonance band is
above the 0.8 limit

Frequency Ratio Limit

The frequency limit ratio
is set at either 0.4 or 0.8.
The criteria for which
limit to use is defined in
ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010
and the theory is
simplified below. This is
the theory used in the
calculation and should
not be estimated
without carrying out the
full evaluation.

Thermowells; when to perform a calculation

A thermowell can be considered to

be at negligible risk if the following
criteria are met:

Process media velocity is less

than 0.64 m/s

Wall thickness is 9.55 mm or

more

Unsupported length is 610 mm

or less

Root and tip diameter are 12.7

mm or more

Maximum allowable stress is

69 Mpa or more

Fatigue endurance limit is 21

Mpa or more

For all other conditions it is advised

that a calculation is performed

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 9

Thermowells; Assumptions and limits

A number of assumptions are made in the

ASME standard:

Surface finish of the thermowell will

be 32 Ra or better

The thermowell is solid drilled

There is no welding on the stem of

the thermowell (other than the
attachment to the flange)

That the flange rating and attachment

are in compliance with established
standards .

That the thermowell is within the

dimension limits given in the standard

That any corrosion or erosion is

allowed for

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 10

Thermowell; the pass criteria

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 11

There are four criteria for a

thermowell to pass evaluation to
ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010

Frequency limit: the resonance

frequency of the thermowell shall
be sufficiently high so that
destructive oscillations are not
excited by the flow

Dynamic stress limit: the

maximum primary dynamic stress
shall not exceed the allowable
fatigue stress limit

Static stress limit: the maximum

steady-state stress on the
thermowell shall not exceed the
allowable stress, determined by the
Von Mises criteria

Hydrostatic pressure limit: the

external pressure shall not exceed
the pressure ratings of the
thermowell tip, shank and flange

All four of the criteria need to be

evaluated and all four need to be
passed.

Implications to new projects and

existing assets
ABB
Month DD, YYYY | Slide 12

New Projects

ABB
Month DD, YYYY | Slide 13

New ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 standard is used and

certificates produced

The new possibility of having a frequency ratio limit of 0.4

means tighter design constraints in a lot of cases

We must help to think around the application to provide a

solution that satisfies both design standards and end user
requirements

Existing Assets

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 14

Majority will have been designed to 1974 standard

The new 0.4 frequency ratio means a lot of thermowells will

not pass the new standard

Re evaluation and re certification services are available

Operators will need to consider the implications when an

existing thermowell fails the new calculation

If process conditions change, for example increasing the

throughput on a part of plant will increase the flow rates
and this also can be evaluated and reported on

Example of evaluation report

ABB
Month DD, YYYY | Slide 15

Brownfield modification, new process conditions

Evaluation of 29 existing thermowells under existing and

new conditions

Only 6 passed the new standard under existing conditions!

Process limits defined and report given

Assistance in designing replacement thermowells

ABBs wake frequency calculation tool

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 16

Thermowell Types
STR/THREAD

STR/SW

STR/FLG

STR/VAN

STR/WELD

TAP/THREAD

TAP/SW

TAP/FLG

TAP/VAN

TAP/WELD

STEP/THREAD

STEP/SW

STEP/FLG

STEP/VAN

STEP/WELD

KEY: STR = STRAIGHT; TAP = TAPERED; STEP = STEPPED

THREAD = THREADED; SW = SOCKET WELD; FLG = FLANGED;
ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 17

VAN = VAN STONE; WELD = WELD-IN

Dimension Details

Note:
Ls and bs are only applicable for step-shank thermowells
ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 18

Calculation Report
Project and client details from the
Front Page are shown here
Input data from the Data Entry
sheet is pulled through here
including the thermowell type
and material details
The calculated results are shown
in either Metric or Imperial units
as selected on the Front Page
Thermowell Suitability is the key
information
The reason for suitability failure
can be found in the comments
section
ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 19

When a Calculation Fails

If a thermowell fails the evaluation, the design can be changed in the
following ways:

Shorten the thermowell to reduce the unsupported length

Increase the thickness of the thermowell root and tip

A velocity collar can be considered to reduce the unsupported length
although this is not generally recommended. A velocity collar is used to
provide a rigid support to the thermowell and will work only if there is an
interference fit between the standoff wall and the collar.
Care must be taken to ensure the collar meets the standoff wall at
installation and is not affected by corrosion. If a velocity collar is the
only viable solution, it is the responsibility of the operator to ensure
there is an interference fit between the standoff wall and the velocity
collar.

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 20

Example of Velocity collar

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 21

Last resort to replace surface measurement devices

Supply of thermowell and standoff as pairs

ABB inspector to examine post weld to ensure correct dia

Summary

The goal of all concerned with thermowells is simple

to provide a safe and reliable product for the application

To achieve this for what appears to be a simple metal

component is far from simple

The cost of not doing the work can have serious

consiquences

ABB Group
July 26, 2013 | Slide 22

Loss of life

Loss of assets

Loss of production

Loss of reputation

Loss of liberty

The cost of doing it is trivial in comparison