Vibration Mitigation of H2s Booster Discharge Pipeline of a Typical Heavy Water Plant

Abstract

Almost every pipeline in power and process industries experiences vibration during its life time either during steady-state or due to dynamic transients like relief valve discharge, earthquake etc. Excessive piping vibrations are the major cause of machinery downtime, leaks, fatigue failure, high noise, fires and explosions in refineries and other process industries. It is important that piping vibration amplitudes should be quantified in order to check if the vibration levels are acceptable. If it is found beyond acceptable limit, the piping layout, piping supports or unsupported span needs to be modified. Flow-induced vibration is the most probable and widely observed mechanism of piping steady-state vibrations. Vibration in large diameter piping can produce excessive noise and can cause failures of attached small-bore piping or in severe cases pipe itself can rupture. In present paper quantification and required remedial action for mitigation of vibration from H 2 S booster discharge pipeline has been presented and also the codal qualification of piping with new support conditions have also been done as per applicable ASME B31.3 code.