Pulsation is defined as pressure variation with time. Excessive pulsation levels in piping can result in high vibration and noise, structural failures, and even pipe rupture. Common sources of pulsation include compressors, pumps, flow turbulence, etc. API 618 (compressors) and API 674 (pumps) emphasize the need for pulsation control and establish guidelines for allowable pulsation levels.
EDI designs and analyzes piping systems to reduce pulsation and control its effects. In order to design effective pulsation control, it is necessary to create a model that can be used to accurately calculate the pulsation generated by any sources in the system.
EDI uses digital acoustical (pulsation) simulation software developed in-house by EDI engineers. Piping systems of virtually any size and complexity can be modeled. Multiple compressors/pumps in parallel, and large systems of pipe junctions, branches, etc., are routinely modeled. Simultaneous parallel operation of any number of compressors/pumps is easily simulated. This software was first developed in 1984 and has been verified extensively over the years by measured data from actual installations.
