Samara University developed pressure pulsation dampener for GDS

Scientists of Samara National Research University named after Academician S.P. Korolev have developed pressure pulsation dampener for gas distribution stations (GDS) of trunk gas lines. It shall reduce drastically noise level at GDS, and thus, help preserving health of gas industry specialists. 

In order to allow gas from the trunk gas line supplying a consumer, pressure in gas pipes needs to be reduced many times. It is performed at numerous gas distribution stations i.e. GDS. While pressure differences when gas jet escapes at supersonic velocity one pipe and enters another one via the pressure regulator, very strong noise occurs at GDS. Moreover, it is amplified due to reverberation i.e. repeated sound reflection from pipe walls and equipment.   

Total noise level in GDS building may exceed 110 decibel, which is comparable to the noise of aircraft taking off nearby. Therefore, a station operator even when working in dedicated protective equipment is exposed to risk of hearing loss. In addition, prolonged noise impact to human may result in disease of the central nervous system. For this reason as long ago as in 2009 Gazprom Transgas Samara, one of the key businesses of Gazprom, has addressed the scientists of Samara University with a proposal to develop a package of technical facilities to reduce noise at GDS.

The first version of developed item was efficient in protection but complex in operation. University scientists developed a process box i.e. containment which absorbs noise at GDS virtually completely. However it was not accepted for operation, since when maintaining station equipment removing such frame would be unsound with respect to cost-saving and process flow.

Then the scientists of Samara University decided to develop a pressure pulsation dampener (PPD) which would be able to suppress pulsation efficiently while access to their source – pressure regulator at the station – is still free. As a result, they developed a technical appliance which is, in essence, is a dampener connected to pressure regulator.

PPD accommodated inside perforated washers of various diameter which pass consequently high-speed gas jet to be supplied. Washers divide gas flow by fractions, reduce eddy formation and gas pressure inside the pipe from 46 to 6 atmospheres. While the number of process openings in each washer depends on gas pressure and diameter of gas line pipe itself. 

During the test at a GDS located in Samara region, some modifications were introduced in dampener design. For instance, it turned that the dampener ‘whistled’.  It appeared that a gas jet passing through the fastening posts of a single washer inside the dampener generated vortex, and caused single-tone sounding. Design was modified promptly. 

‘Now the noise level at experimental GDS is estimated within 80 decibel, it is a permissible rating according to health safety regulations. For comparison: using the novel damper in a station premise, one can hear noise outside the building’ - explains Alexander Kruchkov, professor, Department of Power Plant Automatic Systems, Samara University.

Nowadays, no domestic production PPD are available in Russia, thus Gazprom has to use similar equipment of foreign production at GDS. Item developed by the scientists of Samara University shall allow for rectifying such situation, the more so domestic dampers even in experimental version were found significantly cheaper and more reliable than import ones.

At present, final test, reference measurement and diagnostics, patenting of the pulsation damper developed in Samara National Research University named after Academician S.P. Korolev by the order of gas transport units of Gazprom gas concern are carried out. Once this process is completed, the novel developed item shall be launched to batch production at a Russian plant.  

The item developed by the scientists of Samara University shall help preserving health of gas industry specialists.