Abstract
A gas compressor station only had its about 35% design processing capacity as a result of the abnormal piping vibrations on the inlet pipelines. Characterization, diagnostics, analysis, and elimination of piping vibration were performed. The root causes and sources of the abnormal vibration were investigated by on‐site measurements and analysis of vibration and pulsation under various load conditions of compressors. The results revealed that it was not mechanical resonance, but the high pressure pulsation and acoustic resonance occurred on the inlet pipelines, which resulted in the severe vibration. Three different modification models against vibration were proposed by shortening the length of the pipe to avoid acoustic resonance, enlarging the volume of the gathering manifold to buffer pressure pulsation, and adding supports to increase the stiffness. A better modification model was applied by performing modal analysis and fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) vibration analysis using the finite element method. The effect of countermeasures was evaluated by vibration and pulsation measurements during operation after modifications, which results showed the level of piping vibration and pressure pulsation was within the allowable limits. The processing capacity of the gas station has reached its design requirement as a result of the desired reduction in vibrations.
Highlights
Reciprocating compressors are most commonly used because of their flexibility with regard to operating modes in the gas industry
Engineering applications mainly focus on vibration measurement techniques, investigation using simulation techniques, vibration analysis techniques, fault diagnosis technology, piping design, and vibration control solutions [9,10,11,12,13]. ese researches have laid a good foundation for the piping vibration analysis and control of compressor piping systems
As the inlet pipelines at a gas compressor station suffered from excessive vibration, this paper was devoted to investigate the main causes and the elimination of the vibration problem. e root causes and sources of piping vibration were investigated by vibration measurements and pulsation analysis under the various load conditions of compressors. ree models of the inlet pipeline modifications based on countermeasures against vibration were
Summary
Reciprocating compressors are most commonly used because of their flexibility with regard to operating modes in the gas industry. E researches concerning piping vibration and vibration control mainly include vibration theoretical studies and applications in engineering [1,2,3]. Eoretical studies include building mathematical modeling of pipelines, vibration experiments, and investigation using numerical analysis, such as modal analysis, acoustic analysis, and fluid-structure interaction between pipe and fluid in pipe [4,5,6]. Engineering applications mainly focus on vibration measurement techniques, investigation using simulation techniques, vibration analysis techniques, fault diagnosis technology, piping design, and vibration control solutions [9,10,11,12,13]. As the inlet pipelines at a gas compressor station suffered from excessive vibration, this paper was devoted to investigate the main causes and the elimination of the vibration problem. A modification model was applied after accomplishing modal analysis and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) vibration analysis for the three models. e effect of countermeasures applied was evaluated by vibration and pulsation measurements after modifications
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