Vibration Analysis on Process Units With Dynamic Equipment

Problem definition

Industrial building structures in which dynamic process equipment is installed (Pumps, Compressors, Stirred Reactors / Tanks, Centrifugal Separators, Thin Film Evaporators, Coke Drum Towers, etc.) usually show large amplitude vibrations (even observable to the naked eye) that need to be corrected, or prevented, along design and engineering stages.

Main challenges to overcome with Vibrations Analysis:

To evaluate the influence of installing new structures to support the new equipment upon existent ones by means of a Dynamic Finite Element Analysis.
To study the structural dynamics in the design of supporting structures for vibrating equipment.

Methodology

Modal analysis. Frequencies. Resonance.

Modal analysis to obtain the natural frequencies range of the structure in order to compare them later with the excitation frequency of every equipment installed in the process building.
Goals: to avoid that structure frequencies concur with equipment operating frequencies, and prevent this way that a resonance phenomenon happens.
Results: coincidence between natural frequencies and excitation frequencies.
Conclusion: to evaluate the resonance phenomenon ⇒ harmonic analysis

Harmonic Analysis

Several harmonic analysis of the structure are performed considering two operating conditions:
- - Completely filled equipment.
  - Completely empty equipment.
Harmonic loads are considered as a sole loading condition.
The aim of the analysis is to determine the stress states and deformation of the structure within the equipment frequency range of operation.

Conclusions

Given the vibration problems of the facility, the causes and magnitud of the phenomenon are identified and quantified. Structural reinforcement and strengthening solutions are proposed to mitigate the scale and impact of vibration phenomenon.
Limitation of maximum displacements according to the standard code (CTE DB SE-A Acero)

Abotu CADE Engineering:

CADE has more than 15 years of experience developing mechanical and industrial engineering projects. During this time, CADE has become a pioneer in the use of computer-aided engineering (CAE) applications and provides structural analysis, simulation modelling, engineering and consulting services, finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in different equipment, elements and structures.

Do you have a similar project?

Describe your case and a CADE specialist will review it.