Surge Protection

Sudden valve closure, pump trips, or pipeline pressure transients create flow and pressure surges damaging equipment. Suppressor drums provide volume that absorbs these variations. Gas compressibility or liquid inertia dampens spikes before they reach sensitive equipment like turbines, reactors, or separation columns.

Vessel Function

Drum sits between surge source and protected equipment. Volume cushions flow variations. Inlet and outlet nozzles sized to limit velocity changes. Internal baffles dissipate energy from high-velocity slugs. Pressure relief handles worst-case scenarios preventing equipment damage.

Design Capacity

Volume depends on protected equipment sensitivity and expected surge magnitude. Typical sizing provides 30-120 seconds of average flow at operating conditions. Larger volumes give better protection but cost more. Engineering analysis balances protection versus economics.

Operating Pressure

Design pressure exceeds normal operating pressure with margin for surge events. Relief valves set above operating pressure but below equipment damage threshold. Vessels typically operate 50-500 psig depending on system pressure.

Material Selection

Carbon steel handles hydrocarbon or gas service. Stainless steel for corrosive fluids or high-purity applications. Materials resist operating pressure, temperature, and fluid chemistry. Design accommodates pressure cycling from surge events.

Applications

Gas turbine fuel supply surge protection, reactor feed smoothing, column feed dampening, pipeline receipt point buffering, and any process where flow stability matters. Protects expensive equipment from flow variations that affect performance or cause damage.

Internal Design

Baffles break momentum from inlet surges distributing flow energy across vessel volume. Inlet diffusers reduce velocity preventing erosion and turbulence. Outlet design prevents vortexing that could entrain gas or create flow variations. Simple internals focus on energy dissipation.

Control Integration

Pressure transmitters monitor vessel conditions detecting surge events. Level instruments track liquid inventory in two-phase applications. Data feeds to control systems allowing coordinated response. Some installations include automated isolation during severe upsets.

Performance Benefits

Protects sensitive equipment from flow and pressure variations. Reduces maintenance from cycling damage. Improves process control stability. Simple passive protection requiring minimal maintenance. Proven approach used across process industries.

Pressure Relief

Relief valves sized for maximum surge scenario prevent vessel overpressure. Discharge routes to safe location - flare for gas, containment for liquids. Multiple relief devices provide redundancy. Relief capacity calculations consider surge source and propagation time.

Construction Standards

Design per ASME Section VIII with materials for operating pressure and surge conditions. Relief sizing per API 520 including surge dynamics. Inlet and outlet piping sized to avoid creating additional surges. Complete documentation with surge analysis and vessel calculations.

ERGIL inlet suppressor drums protect process equipment from flow surges and pressure spikes through volume buffering and energy dissipation.