An important aspect of the mechanical design of a reciprocating compressor system is the structural dynamic consideration of the compressor manifold system. The compressor manifold system typically includes the crosshead guide(s), distance piece(s), cylinder(s), suction and discharge bottle(s), and attached piping to the first clamp or appropriate boundary condition. There are many different system configurations. For this reason, a significant amount of engineering effort is devoted to coordinating the mechanical design of compressor manifold systems with the pulsation analysis.
Modeling Techniques
A pictorial sketch of a typical compressor manifold system is shown below:
