When a compressor package ships with excessive vibration, the fix is almost always expensive — rerouted piping, added supports, bottle modifications, or in the worst cases, a complete skid redesign. The frustrating part is that most of these problems could have been caught at the analysis stage, before a single piece of pipe was cut.
Pulsation analysis exists precisely for this reason. By simulating the acoustic behavior of the compressor system in software before fabrication, engineers can predict where pulsation levels will exceed API 618 limits, where unbalanced shaking forces will concentrate, and which acoustic resonances will fall within the compressor’s operating speed range.
What Happens When Analysis Comes Too Late
The consequences of skipping or delaying pulsation analysis are well documented. Excessive pulsation-induced gas forces cause deterioration of compressor foundations, reduce valve life, create vibration fatigue damage in piping and components, and lead to failure of small-bore connections. These are not theoretical risks — they are the most common root causes identified in field vibration investigations.
When analysis is performed after fabrication, the available corrective options are constrained by what’s already built. Changing bottle geometry, adding orifice plates, or relocating pipe supports are all possible but each one costs time and money that didn’t need to be spent.
The Right Sequence
The correct sequence for a new compressor package is straightforward: P&IDs and equipment data first, acoustical analysis second, fabrication drawings third. The analysis output — bottle sizing, orifice plate specifications, support locations, and shaking force magnitudes — feeds directly into the design. Every recommendation is incorporated before anything is built.
At Tech Transfer, our acoustical analyses are performed this way as a matter of practice. The result is a package that ships compliant, without the rework cycle that comes from discovering problems in the field.
