Pressure Pulsation Analysis – Dynamic
Techniques Applied to Fluid Flow
Dynamic problems are not limited to structural
vibration, but also arise from process fluid flows and in hydraulic systems.
Pressure
pulsations can directly affect process stability. An example
of this is in the formation of paper. Pulp slurry is pumped to the
paper machine and
exits the headbox as a jet. This jet must have uniform velocity to
ensure a uniform final sheet of paper. Pressure pulsations in
this jet directly affect the final product uniformity, hence the
pressure pulsation must be within specification to ensure the required
uniformity.
Pressure
pulsation can arise from the pump, turbulence, or other equipment.
Acoustical resonance can exacerbate problems within a piping
system.
In any of these cases, the dynamic pressure must be
measured to determine the level of pressure pulsation. This is done
with similar equipment as vibration analysis, but the accelerometer is
replaced with a dynamic pressure transducer. Only when the pressure pulsations are know can the problem be identified and
solutions determined.
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