Case Study: Pilot Chemical Company improves surge suppression with Datacor AFT Impulse liquid accumulators

Pilot Chemical Company tests liquid accumulators across 5 scenarios with Datacor

Pilot Chemical Company sought to understand the use of liquid accumulators within AFT Impulse software to better model and control pressure surges (water hammer) in their piping systems. The challenge was to comprehend how these liquid-full devices, which operate differently than gas accumulators, could be configured to either reflect or transmit pressure waves to protect system integrity.

Datacor, through a detailed tutorial and analysis using AFT Impulse, demonstrated how the effective bulk modulus (K') and initial volume of a liquid accumulator dictate its behavior. By modeling various scenarios, Datacor showed that a flexible accumulator (low K') or one with a large volume reflects pressure waves like a reservoir, while a stiff accumulator (high K') or one with a small volume allows waves to transmit. This analysis provided Pilot Chemical Company with the knowledge to properly implement and balance these components for effective surge suppression.

Pilot Chemical Company