Mitigating abnormal vibrations in amine gas treatment regeneration towers through vibration analysis and viscoelastic dampers

Abstract

The regeneration tower within the amine cycle of a gas treatment unit, along with its rich amine inlet pipe, exhibits abnormal vibrations. If left unchecked, these vibrations pose risks of fatigue, potential economic repercussions, and significant harm to personnel and infrastructure. This article is dedicated to meticulously investigating the root causes of the vibrations and proposing pragmatic measures to avert potential breakdowns. A comprehensive analysis of all relevant documentation, encompassing technical particulars, maintenance logs, and operational parameters, is conducted. Subsequently, vibration data is meticulously gathered on both the tower and its inlet pipe, scrutinized against pertinent guidelines and benchmarks, and juxtaposed with the vibrational characteristics of a similar unit. Moreover, employing the impact hammer modal testing method enables the determination of the tower's natural frequencies. The root cause of vibrations is identified as the fluid-structure interaction and resonance using the fishbone diagram. Notably, the vibrational profiles of the two refinery units exhibit striking similarities, with variances not exceeding 15%. In response, a pragmatic approach is proposed through simulation via the COMSOL software, entailing the installation of two viscoelastic dampers at salient high-amplitude locations to reduce vibrations. This solution can fortify the operational integrity and durability of the gas treatment unit.