Abstract Gas flow pulsation induced by reciprocating compressors constitutes a critical excitation source for pipeline vibration in natural gas storage stations, with its resultant structural dynamic responses directly impacting system safety and reliability. This study establishes a comprehensive dynamic analysis methodology through structural dynamics theory, utilizing the actual geometric parameters and constraint characteristics of a compressor outlet pipeline in an operational storage station. A full-scale finite element (FE) model incorporating critical details such as couplings and flanges was developed to investigate vibration mechanisms through modal and harmonic response analyses. Key findings reveal: 1) The pipeline’s natural frequency distribution effectively avoids resonance regions corresponding to compressor excitation frequencies, confirming structural safety in system design; 2) Low-order vibration modes at elbow joints and air-cooled pipe connections indicate stiffness deficiency, identifying these as critical zones for vibration mitigation; 3) Harmonic analysis demonstrates significant directional dependence of vibration amplitudes, with X-axis responses dominating and exhibiting strong coupling with low-order modal characteristics. The proposed innovative constrained modeling approach overcomes traditional simplifications of local structural details, establishing a theoretical framework for precise vibration prediction and targeted control. The findings not only provide technical support for safe operations in natural gas facilities but also establish methodological foundations for dynamic design optimization of complex fluid transportation systems.
Wu et al. (2025) studied this question.