PULSATIONS IN A TWO PHASE FLOW LINE

[roker]

Hello to all,

We have a 12" line downstream a control valve station with two phase flow of crude oil inlet to a distillation column, the line is 15 meters long.
We prefer to leave the control station in place, can someone assist in a solution to eliminate the pulsation of the line? In reciprocating pumps a dampner is installed in inlet and outlet lines, can such a solution be adopted here?

Regards and happy new year,
roker

 

[whammett]

If you are talking about problems due to a reciprocating pump, then instalng an air discharge OR a dampner on inlet and outlet valves could be the way to go.

However, depending on what you are pumping, installing some form of a positive displacement rotary pump would have stopped this problem all together.

IF i understand your question correctly, yes, you can install a dampner.

 

[Chance17]

Do you really experience pulsation?
Or is it high turbulence associated with flashing??

My sense is that pulsation would be associated with some type of feed tray hydraulics. Could possibly modify the feed tray.

High turbulance would be a continuous "water hammer" effect from the flashing.
You may could elevate the control valve above the feed point.
You could move the control valve closer to the feed nozzle (mount directly to tower ??)

 

[toabhijeet]

Recomonded Engineering practice is to place such valves as near as possible with column. Also try to avoid the vertical run of the piping, down stream of such control valves.

 

[davefitz]

toabhijheet is correct. Chances are the 2-phase flow regime at the outlet is plug flow or an equivalent separated phase flow prone to instability.

If it is not feasible to re-locate the valve but the pipe can be modified, then it may be possible to alter the flow regime by adding an internal spiral turbulator.