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- An Integrated Approach to Manage Vibration Risks
- Design Requirements for Reciprocating Compressors
- Evaluating Compressor Operating Risks
- Five simple methods to check reciprocating compressor performance
- Important Differences in Pulsation Software
- Liquid Pumping Systems (Including Liquid Pipelines)
- Noise Regulations Around the World
- Noise Risks in the Gas Industry
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- Pipe Support Stiffness, GMRC Project
- Piping Vibration Design Considerations
- Piping Vibration Examples
- Structural Vibration and Ways to Avoid It
- Tips for a Successful Project (Vibration Control)
- Transient Conditions on Small-Bore Piping
- Vendor Requirements for Piping Vibration & Integrity Assessment
- Vibration-induced fatigue (whitepaper)
- Vibration Issues Affecting Gas Compressor Facilities
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Piping Vibration Design Considerations
1 Static Design
Static design involves thermal effects on the piping system as well as pressure, weight, and other applicable loads (eg, seismic). The design methodology and approach for this service includes the following features:
- Accurate assumptions in piping models
- Wood understands that actual pipe support stiffnesses vary dramatically depending on the application. Based on our field and design research, our piping support stiffnesses are more accurate compared to traditional approaches that assume “rigid” supports. Improved accuracy means better designs that avoid significant project design inefficiencies involved with solving problems (that are not there in reality), or missing critical risk areas
- Consideration of vibratory loads as well as thermal loads (see below – dynamic design)
- Use of specialty restraints and pipe clamps that effectively achieve requirements for both vibration and thermal growth design aspects
- Ability to support other design requirements (buried pipe, glass reinforced epoxy, flexible pipe, etc.)
2 Dynamic Design
There are many applications where dynamic concerns should be addressed in the design stage by investigating both normal operating and transient cases. Areas to consider include:
- Pressure pulsation and vibration affecting the piping near reciprocating compressors and pumps
- Centrifugal compressor surge control dynamic simulation and evaluation
- Piping vibration due to flow-induced vibration (FIV), acoustic-induced vibration (AIV), flow-induced turbulence (FIT), etc.
- Transient events in the system causing vibration, pressure surge (water or fluid hammer), cavitation, and pipe collapse due to valve swings, emergency shut downs, PSV lifting, and other transients in gas or liquid systems
- Excitation of transverse acoustical modes and shell modes of the pipe by vane-passing pulsations (also called shell transverse acoustical vibration).
3 Recommendations for Use
| Engingeering Analysis | System | When Required |
|---|---|---|
| Flow-Induced turbulence (FIT) Analysis | All fluids | High flow systems with flexible and infrequent supports |
| Machinery and Equipment Nozzle Load Analysis | All fluids | Machinery and equipment with low allowable nozzle loads |
| Piping Stress | All fluids | High temperature/pressure variation |
| Small-Bore Connections (SBC) Analysis | All fluids | All connections not reinforced or braced |
| Shell Transverse Acoustical (STA) Analysis | All fluids (but typically gas systems) | Thin walled pipe or vessels near compressors and pumps |
| Compressor Surge Dynamic Simulation | Centrifugal compressor systems | Low inertia, high pressure ratio, complex systems |
| Acoustic-Induced Vibration (AIV) Analysis | Gas systems only | Pressure reducing devices like valves and orifice plates |
| Flow-Induced Vibration (FIV) Analysis | Gas systems only | High flow systems with dead legs |
| Transient Vibration Analysis (gas systems) | Gas systems only | Blowdown or PSV releasing events, momentum changes |
| Cavitation/Flashing | Liquid systems only | Pressure reducing devices like valves and pumps |
| Water (or fluid) Hammer Analysis | Liquid systems only | Fast acting valves and emergency shutdown events |
| Pulsation and Mechanical Analysis | Reciprocating compressor/pump; Screw compressor | High pressure, high power, complex or critical systems |
Wood's vibration dynamics and noise team is a specialist engineering consultancy that provides piping design engineering services, as well as field vibration analysis and troubleshooting.
Related Pages
An Integrated Approach to Manage Vibration Risks • Examples of Piping Vibration (Video) • Pipe Support Stiffness, GMRC Project • Piping Vibration Examples • Tips for Managing a Successful Vibration Project • Transient Conditions on Small-Bore Piping •
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