Author(s)

S. Zarei, H. Shokouhmand

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the untypical pipe vibrations in gas pressure reducing and flow metering stations in specific operating conditions (low flow) and its effect on the behavior of meters in the studied station. These vibrations are mainly caused by the thermoacoustic process in the area adjacent to the junction of two trains of regulators to heat exchangers. To simulate and study this phenomenon, a Rijke tube was used, which is an experimental model for this purpose. Then a mathematical model was developed to complete a theoretical analysis, and the main parameters of the system and its behaviour were investigated. The simulated model was then solved using the computational fluids dynamics techniques and was compared with the general behaviours in the thermoacoustic phenomenon. In the end, a number of solutions were presented to reduce the propagation of the vibrations. The solutions can be generalized from the Rijke tube model to the studied station. The main factors include the heat exchangers location and the amount of energy consumed in the stations.

Keywords

thermoacoustic oscillations, Rijke tube, pipe vibration, pressure reducing station