Pressure Pulsations in pipe Systems with Multiple Reciprocating air Compressors and Receivers

Abstract

A modified non-steady one-dimensional homentropic theory is used to predict the pressure pulsations in pipe systems with multiple reciprocating compressors and receivers. Allowance is made for heat losses in the pipes by correcting the pipe lengths. Receivers are simulated by neglecting the lengthwise wave action and using the generalized non-steady flow energy equation. An extensive test programme is described with one, two and three compressors in pipe systems with a single receiver. Different receiver sizes are used and tests are carried out with the compressors in phase and out of phase. The experiments show that the correction for heat losses may be obtained from a single test with a simple single pipe compressor system. This correction can be applied to all the subsequent complex systems. The experiments showed excellent agreement between the predicted and measured pressure wave amplitudes, frequency and phase relations but the mass flow predictions may be in error from 2 to 14 per cent high. The methods offer an accurate method of predicting pressure pulsations and valve movement in multicycle compressor pipe and receiver systems.