Patent Description:
The protective tube serves for receiving a measuring insert for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium. In the field of measuring inserts for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium protective tubes are e.g. known in the form of thermowells for thermometers which serve for determining and/or monitoring the temperature of a medium. The measuring insert of a thermometer usually at least comprises one temperature sensor for determining and/or monitoring the temperature of the medium. The temperature sensor in turn comprises at least one temperature-sensitive component, e.g. in the form of a resistive element, especially a platinum element, or in the form of a thermocouple. However, protective tubes are also known in connection with gas sampling probes, where a gas sample is, especially dynamically, taken out from a pipe or vessel. The present invention thus generally relates to fluid processing and related measurements employing insertion type probe bodies and is not restricted to thermowells or gas sampling probes.

Such protective tubes are frequently exposed to the flow of the respective medium which causes different mechanical forces acting on the protective tube, e. shear forces or forces induced by coherent vortex shedding and which can result in vortex induced vibrations (VIV). Vortex shedding in fluid dynamics is known as "Kármán vortex street" and refers to a repeating pattern of swirling vortices in alternating directions caused by the unsteady separation of flow of a medium around a body, causing said body to vibrate. The closer the frequency of the vibrations is to the natural frequency of the body around which the medium flows, the more the body vibrates. The frequency of the vibrations is e. determined by several process parameters, such as the physical properties of the medium, the flow velocity and the shape of the body.

Due to the high risk of damage of protective tubes subject to VIV, these vibrations e.g. need to be duly considered during production. in the case of thermometers, standard methods, such as ASME PTC <NUM> TW-<NUM>, are available, which define several design rules that help to reduce negative effects of coherent vortex shedding. The basic principle underlying the design rules is to increase the natural frequency of vibrations of the thermometer to separate the natural frequency from the vortex shedding frequency. In such way, the dangerous condition of resonant vortex induced vibrations becomes minimized. For this purpose, commonly the geometry of the thermometer is varied, e. by reducing its length and/or by increasing its diameter.

Alternatively, when functional constraints don't allow certain changes in the dimensions of the thermometer, mechanical supports or absorbers are frequently used to reduce the thermometer's sensitivity to vortex shedding. These mechanical supports or absorbers are usually fitted into a gap between the opening of the vessel or pipe and the outside surface of the thermometer. The supports or absorbers then increase the natural frequency of the thermometer by reducing the free length of the thermometer. However, it proves difficult to fit the supports or absorbers in such a way that a high level of coupling and therefore the desired effect can be achieved.

Yet, another approach to reduce VIV of protective tubes is to provide certain structures or structural elements on the protective tube. In this context, helical fins on the outer surface of the protective tube have been proven very successful, as e. described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, or <CIT> for different configurations. <CIT> discloses a protective tube for insertion into a pipe or vessel containing a medium, which comprises a surface structure comprising surface corrugations for mitigating vortex induced vibrations.

Based on these approaches the objective technical problem underlying the present invention is to increase the resistance of protective tubes against vortex induced vibrations.

This problem is solved by means of the protective tube according to claim <NUM>, the measuring apparatus according to claim <NUM> and by the method according to claim <NUM>. Regarding the protective tube, the objective technical problem is solved by means of a protective tube for insertion into a pipe or vessel containing a medium, the protective tube comprising.

According to the present invention an outer surface of the tubular member in an area of the at least one flow channel comprises a surface structure, wherein the surface structure comprises a surface corrugation.

The protective tube is usually mounted on the pipe or vessel via an opening which may have a process connection for connecting the protective tube to the vessel or pipe. The protective tube at least partially extends into an inner volume of the vessel or pipe and is at least partially in contact with the flowing medium. The protective tube may be arranged such that its longitudinal axis proceeds perpendicular to the flow direction of the medium. However, also angles between the longitudinal axis and the flow direction different from <NUM>° can be employed.

The at least one, preferably at least two, preferably at least three helical fins improve the stability of the protective tube towards coherent vortex shedding. A further improvement is achieved by means of the surface structure provided within the at least one flow channel. The surface structure serves for a laminarization of the flow profile in the at least one flow channel.

In a preferred embodiment the surface structure comprise a pattern, contour or profile, with alternating depressions and elevations, especially a pattern winding around the outer surface of the tubular member along at least a part of the tubular member. The elevations may have rounded or sharp edges and can be embodied so as to be round or flat in an area of maximal height of the elevation.

The protective tube can be used in a wide range of applications and can e.g. be part of a gas sampling probe with an inlet and outlet end or a Pitot tube. However, in one embodiment the the protective tube is a thermowell, and the tubular member is closed in one end section.

Another embodiment comprises that at least one geometrical parameter of the at least one helical fin is chosen such that it depends on at least one process condition of the medium in the vessel or pipe. In this manner, a protective tube with at least one customized helical fin, which is chosen in dependence of the specific applied process, is provided. As a consequence the stability of the protective tube towards coherent vortex shedding can be further optimized. Several embodiments exist for providing a customized thermowell according to the present invention, which are described in the not yet published European patent application with the file number <CIT>.

The objective technical problem is also solved by means of a measuring apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium, comprising a protective tube according to any of the embodiments described in connection with the protective tube.

In one embodiment of the measuring apparatus, the protective tube serves for receiving a measuring insert for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium, especially the temperature of a medium.

Finally, the objective technical problem is solved by means of a method of producing a protective tube for insertion into a pipe or vessel containing a medium, the protective tube comprising.

The method comprises the step of providing a surface structure comprising a surface corrugation on an outer surface of the tubular member in the area of the at least one flow channel. channel, wherein the surface structure with the surface corrugation is either produced together with the at least one flow channel and helical fin, or in a separate production step, before or after providing the at least one flow channel and helical fin.

In one embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of choosing at least one geometrical parameter of the at least one helical fin such that it depends on at least one process condition of the medium in the vessel or pipe. In this regard, again it is referred to the published European patent application with the file number <CIT>.

It is further of advantage, if at least one parameter of the surface structure is chosen such that it depends on at least one process condition of the medium in the vessel or pipe. For instance, a number of valleys and/or elevations, especially a number per flow channel, a height of the valleys and/or elevation and/or a shape of the valleys and/or elevations can be chosen. The geometrical parameter relating to the surface structure can further be constant throughout the surface structure or varied along at least one axis of the tubular member.

There are several possibilities to produce the entire protective tube, which all fall into the scope of the present invention, i.e. the protective tube, measuring apparatus and method.

For instance, the protective tube may be manufactured starting from a cylindrical tubular member which is subsequently machined in order to achieve a protective tube according to the present invention. The tubular member may be provided with a central bore. Furthermore, the helical fins can e.g. either be produced by removing parts of the wall of the tubular member in order to form the at least one flow channel. Alternatively, the production may include arranging the at least one helical fin on an outer surface of the tubular member, e.g. by welding a preformed element of the protective tube's outer surface as described in the yet unpublished European patent application <CIT>.

Alternatively, the protective tube according to the present invention may also be produced by an additive manufacturing procedure, e.g. by a 3D printing procedure, by a casting process or by means of a molding process.

Similarly, but according to the invention, the surface structure is either produced together with the at least one flow channel and helical fin or in a separate production step before or after providing the at least one flow channel and helical fin. For instance, the surface structure can be either produced while the parts to form the at least one flow channel and helical fin are removed or in a separate production step afterwards. Similarly, in case the helical fin is arranged on an outer surface by providing a separate element, e.g. a preformed element, the surface structure can be provided before or after arranging the helical fin on the outer surface of the protective tube. On the other hand, when employing an additive manufacturing procedure, e.g. by a 3D printing procedure, by a casting process or by means of a molding process, the at least one flow channel, helical fin and the surface structure can also be produced in one step.

One preferred embodiment of the method comprises that the surface structure is manufactured by removing parts of the wall of the tubular member, especially by means of at least one turning or milling process. As outlined before, the turning or milling process may simultaneously serve to produce the at least one flow channel and helical fin.

With respect to the method according to the present invention, it is of advantage, if at least one cutting tool is used to produce the surface structure. The cutting tool preferably is applicable in connection with a turning or milling process.

With regards to the cutting tool, it is of advantage, if the cutting tool comprises a cylindric base body with at least two knives arranged on the base body, which are circumferentially distributed across an outer surface of the base body.

It is further of advantage, if the surface structure is manufactured by at least at times modifying at least one manufacture-parameter, for example by modifying a draft angle used to position the cutting tool in relation to the tubular member and/or the cutting tool used. In this regard it is preferred, if the surface structure is produced while manufacturing the at least one flow channel and helical fin, preferably by removing part of the wall of the tubular member.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of Figures <FIG>.

In the figures, the same elements are always provided with the same reference symbols.

<FIG> illustrates the origin of vortex shedding w at a cylindrical, conically tapered protective tube <NUM> exposed to a flowing medium M in a pipe <NUM>, which is indicated by one of its walls. Downstream of the protective tube <NUM> in the flow direction v of the medium, a ridge-like pattern develops. Depending on the flow velocity v of the medium M, this can lead to coherent vortex shedding which in turn may cause the protective tube <NUM> to vibrate.

The vibrations are mainly due to two forces acting on the protective tube <NUM>, a shear force in the in y-direction and a lifting force in x-direction. The shear force causes oscillations at a frequency fs, while the lifting force causes oscillates at a frequency of 2fs. The frequency fs now depends on the flow velocity v of the medium M, and on various physical or chemical medium properties such as its viscosity and density, as well as on the dimensions of the protective tube <NUM>, such as its diameter and length. The closer the frequency fs is to the natural frequency of the protective tube <NUM> and the higher the flow velocity v of the medium M, the greater are the resulting oscillation causing forces.

As a result of the vibration causing forces, the protective tube <NUM> can be damaged or even break down completely. This is known as the so-called resonance condition.

<FIG> exemplarily and without limitation to such embodiment shows a state of the art thermometer <NUM> having a protective tube <NUM> in the form of a thermowell <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the thermowell <NUM> comprises a tubular member <NUM> having a first end section 5a, and a second end section 5b with a closed end. The tubular member <NUM> further comprises a bore <NUM> forming a hollow space within the tubular member <NUM>, which is defined by an inner surface s and a predeterminable height h parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the tubular member <NUM>, which bore <NUM> serves for receiving a measuring insert <NUM> [not shown] for determining and/or monitoring the process variable, e.g. the temperature of the medium M.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, a fastening unit <NUM> is provided, which exemplarily is attached to the tubular member <NUM>, here. This fastening unit <NUM> is a process connection and serves for mounting the thermowell <NUM> to the pipe <NUM> [not shown] such that the tubular member <NUM> at least partially extends into an inner volume of pipe <NUM> and such that it is at least partially in contact with the flowing medium M.

The outer surface S the thermowell <NUM> of <FIG> has an essentially round shape as becomes visible in <FIG>. However, such construction can easily lead to undesired vortex induced vibrations of the thermometer <NUM>.

To overcome the problems associated with coherent vortex shedding, protective tubes <NUM> with helical fins <NUM> which are typically arranged on the outer cross-sectional surface S of the protective tube <NUM> have been suggested. An exemplarily protective tube <NUM> having three such helical fins <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The helical fins <NUM> form flow channels <NUM> along the tubular member <NUM> and thus reduce VIV of the protective tube <NUM>. Each flow channel <NUM> is formed by the volume between to adjacent helical fins <NUM> which proceed around the tubular member <NUM> along its length axis A.

The present invention additionally provides a surface structure <NUM> for which three preferred and exemplary embodiments are shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts a cross-sectional view of tubular member <NUM> with helical fins <NUM> forming flow channels <NUM> which in turn are provided with surface structure <NUM> by means of which a further improvement regarding the stability of the tubular member <NUM>, or the protective tube <NUM> respectively, against vortex induced vibrations is achieved. The surface structure <NUM>, among others, has the advantage of laminarization of the flow profile within the flow channels <NUM>.

In this 2D view, each surface contour is visible for each flow channel <NUM> which is defined by the surface structure <NUM>. Here, the pattern of the surface structure is given by two valleys <NUM> separated from each other by an elevation <NUM>, the pattern winding around the tubular member <NUM> in the same way as the helical fins <NUM>, i.e. in the form of helixes. There are no sharp edges in the contour of the surface structure <NUM> for the embodiment shown. Further, the widths of the two valleys parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the tubular member <NUM> from each other. However, other embodiments of the protective tube can also comprise a multitude of equally designed valleys <NUM>. Additionally, other embodiments can include surface structures with more valleys <NUM> and elevations <NUM>, the various valleys <NUM> and elevations <NUM> at least partially having same or differing dimensions. According to the invention, the surface structure <NUM> also comprises a surface corrugation <NUM> [not shown here].

A second especially preferred embodiment of the surface structure <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. In this embodiment, the surface structure <NUM> is build in a symmetric manner around elevation <NUM>. In contrast, for the embodiment of the surface structure <NUM> shown in <FIG> the elevation <NUM> comprises a sharp edge. In all embodiments shown, the helical fins <NUM> and surface structure <NUM> proceed along the entire length I parallel to the length axis A of the tubular member <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, also only a given section of the tubular member <NUM> might be covered by helical fins <NUM> and/or the surface structure <NUM>.

It is preferred, if the surface structure <NUM> is produced while producing the flow channels <NUM>, which in turn are preferably produced by removing parts of the wall S of the tubular member <NUM>, especially by means of at least one turning or milling process. That way, the entire production process of the protective tube <NUM> is simplified, optimized and can be carried out based on a reduced number of manufacturing steps.

Claim 1:
Protective tube (<NUM>) for insertion into a pipe or vessel (<NUM>) containing a medium (M), the protective tube (<NUM>) comprising
a tubular member (<NUM>) having
a bore (<NUM>) extending between an upper and lower end of the tubular member (<NUM>), and
at least one helical fin (<NUM>) formed on at least a section of an outer surface (S) of the tubular member (<NUM>), winding around the outer surface (S) of the tubular member (<NUM>) and defining a flow channel (<NUM>) along at least a part of the tubular member (<NUM>),
wherein an outer surface (S) of the tubular member (<NUM>) in an area of the at least one flow channel (<NUM>) comprises a surface structure (<NUM>) characterised in that the surface structure (<NUM>) comprises a surface corrugation (<NUM>).