Vortex shedding chimney
Vortex shedding can really damage an industrial chimney. It can cause unwanted movements and damages from fatigue. The solution is adding a Tuned Mass Damper. Flow Engineering has over 20 years of experience in calculating, designing and installing Tuned Mass Damper systems. These systems can not only be applied to industrial chimneys, but also to bridges, flagpoles, distillation columns and other slender structures. They ensure the reduction of vibration and prevent fatigue damage.
Vortex shedding: the solution for an industrial chimney
Industrial chimneys are often very lightweight and tall. Because of that, it can be very sensitive to natural influences such as earthquakes, waves and wind. The vibrations of slender structures like an industrial chimney can be caused by cross-wind loads, also known as the vortex shedding phenomenon. This can cause the industrial chimney to oscillate. This happens when the damping is small and the natural resonance frequency is close to the vortex shedding frequency. Adding Tuned Mass Dampers is the solution. When the industrial chimney starts to oscillate due to vortex shedding, the mass of the Tuned Mass Damper will oscillate in the opposite direction with a frictional or hydraulic component.
Designing a Tuned Mass Damper
Various data is needed to design a Tuned Mass Damper. For example, the oscillation frequency, the direction of the movements, the mass of the structure and the available space. This means that all Tuned Mass Dampers are custom made. For more information about a Tuned Mass Damper as a solution for the effect of vortex shedding on an industrial chimney or stacks, please contact us by calling +31 (0)180 – 63 11 60.