Pulsation Dampeners

Compressors form an important item in many production processes, for example, in pneumatic transport systems and vacuum systems. Roots-type rotary piston blowers and screw compressors generate high noise levels that, undampened, may exceed 160 dB(A). In those plant configurations, where several compressors connect to a common discharge pipe, an irritating ”beat” is observed. Moreover, low-frequency pulsations excite vibrations that, over time, induce damage into the piping and its adjuncts.

Why Pulsation Dampeners?

Pulsation dampeners even out the pressure extremes generated by the compressor. In doing so the useful lifetime of the plant is increased, periodic plant inspections become less frequent. At the same time, pulsation dampeners reduce the noise levels radiated from the piping.

Extended Experience

QE International has built, over several decades, an outstanding reputation for supplying high quality pulsation dampeners. dampeners that have been successfully installed throughout the world. Several compressor producers have employed QE standard designs. In addition to these, QE has a long-standing tradition in custom-built equipment that is designed for incorporation into specific compressor/piping configurations to the complete satisfaction of the plant user. Irrespective of installation complexity, QE has demonstrated reliable, tailor-made, high quality, guaranteed solutions. By fabricating the dampeners in the most economic locations, pricing is extremely competitive.

Principle of Operations

The principle is that, in a single housing, two or more separate expansion chambers are connected through one or more choke tubes. The proportions will be engineered to attenuate, by specific tuning the main frequencies, generated by the compressor. The fluctuations in pressure are markedly diminished and, if desired, can be reduced to a residual peak-to-peak pulsation level of less that 1% of the mean absolute line pressure. The number and positioning of the choke-tubes are determined by the rotary speed of the compressor and the delivered gas volume flow rate even when a variable speed compressor is installed.

Standard dampeners
QE International offers a series of standardised dampeners at very attractive prices. These are complete, internally and externally in pressure vessel quality carbon steel. The exterior is blast cleaned to SA 2,5 quality and spray-coated with a zinc rich primer to a dry film thickness (DFT) of 40 micron.

Custom made dampeners
Because of the extreme loadings, the demands upon the construction of the pulsation dampeners are very high. In many cases a standardised design no longer meets the requirement. QE is unrivalled in the supply of custom-built dampeners, the design of which is often determined by following complex studies.

Design Calculation