Acoustics interaction in a complex piping network with multiple pulsatile sources

Abstract

The interactions between multiple pulsatile sources and the acoustic eigenmodes are analysed to elucidate the influence of source characteristics and contrasting phase differences on the acoustic response in a liquid-filled complex piping network with multiple branches. For illustration, the interactions between two reciprocating pumps operating in a two-branched network are analysed using a one-dimensional linear model. The interactions between sources and acoustic eigenmodes lead to enhanced or suppressed acoustic responses depending on the spatial separation between the sources and their phase differences. The acoustic field measurements from the sweep of driving frequency of a mono-ethylene-glycol (MEG) pump module with two reciprocating pumps in a three-branched network are analysed. The linear model captures the approximate resonance profile of the field measurement data. The presence of plane acoustic wave attenuation in the practical case is influenced by the losses associated with pipe fittings.