5/24/2018 Skid Design and Dynamic Analysis | Vibration, dynamics and noise

Services
Static Equipment & Structures (Piping
Skid Design and Analysis
Vibration & Fatigue) Lifting, Environmental Loading; Static and Dynamic Design
Machinery Analysis
Bottle Sizing Service
Compressor Package Engineering
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and
Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD)
Foundation Design and Dynamic
Analysis
Fuel Gas Compressor Piping
Transient Analysis
Lateral Vibration Analysis
Pulsation & Mechanical Analysis: For new skid designs a dynamic analysis is often required to resolve a vibration problem. In addition to the dynamic analysis, other
Reciprocating Compressor design criteria must also be addressed.
Pulsation & Mechanical Analysis:
Reciprocating Pump
CONTENTS [ hide ]
Pulsation & Mechanical Analysis:
Screw Compressor 1 Skid Design Challenges

Pump RCF Analysis 2 Examples of Skid Resonance and Vibration

Review & Design Support Services 3 Skid Design Solutions

Shell Transverse Acoustical (STA) 3.1 Lifting, Loading and Transportation Study – Scope and Features
Analysis 3.2 Dynamic Skid Vibration and Stress Analysis – Scope and Features
Skid Design and Analysis 4 Customer Benefits
Surge Control Design for 5 Wood Advantages
Centrifugal Compressor Systems 6 Related Information
Torsional Vibration Analysis (TVA) 7 Related Services

Rotating Equipment Reliability 8 Keywords

Noise Management

Field Engineering & Troubleshooting 1 SKID DESIGN CHALLENGES

Anti-Vibration Products The majority of compressor and pump packages are now mounted on steel skids or baseplates. Designing a skid for a new machinery
Training package can be challenging because of these factors:
The skids must be designed to avoid resonance and vibration (from dynamic machinery and unbalanced forces and couples).
The industry is looking for lower cost packages. This can cause suppliers to reduce the skid cost which often results in detrimental
decrease in skid stiffness. But an inappropriately designed skid will create vibration and reliability problems. In some cases, skids
are considered too flimsy for the required application.
New designs must consider loading, lifting and transportation issues, as well as weight limitations. Pedestal height can also cause
problems.
Environmental loads such as wind, wave, and seismic activity must meet a variety of different codes and standards.

2 EXAMPLES OF SKID RESONANCE AND VIBRATION

These two animations are examples where the skid was resonant and created severe vibration problems. The animations are called
operating deflection shape (or ODS) and are based on field vibration measurements. An ODS is helpful to understand the relative
vibration and even the mode shapes. These examples illustrate why a dynamic skid analysis is often required. The picture on the right
illustrates the modifications required to adequately support the engine (shown in yellow). This solution has resolved the vibration
problems.

VIDEO: EXAMPLE OF VIBRATION AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMIC ANALYSIS

3 SKID DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Two commonly required skid studies are performed to address the above challenges. These engineering requirements must be
specified (by the owner or EPC) to ensure they are included in the project.
SPECIFICATIONS

1. Lifting, Environmental, and Transportation Studies. These studies will ensure the skid can be lifted, transported to site, and
withstand environmental loads such as those induced by the wind or an earthquake. Skid applications will need to meet industry

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5/24/2018 Skid Design and Dynamic Analysis | Vibration, dynamics and noise
codes and customer specifications for these loads.
2. Dynamic Skid Analysis. The study is focused on rotating or reciprocating machines. It will assess the vibration and dynamic
stress amplitudes in the skid structure and components mounted on the skid to identify if modifications are required.

For many packagers, Wood can also help reduce the cost of the skid (Skid Optimization Study). Contact us for further information on
ways to reduce unnecessary costs (labor and materials).

Note that the final skid design is affected by the compressor foundation design (i.e., the dynamic stiffness will vary depending if a
concrete, gravel, steel structure or pile foundation is supporting the skid).

3.1 LIFTING, LOADING AND TRANSPORTATION STUDY – SCOPE AND FEATURES

Lifting Analysis – one aspect of lifting, loading and transportation analysis

Scope
Applies to any skid application (supporting process piping and vessels, compressors, pumps, engines, generators, etc.)
Evaluate the skid design to ensure the skid member stresses are below appropriate code specifications such as the AISC
requirements. Other lifting standards may also apply for offshore platform or FPSO applications (such as API RP-2A-W5D).
Evaluate skid design based upon lifting loads, transportation and hold-down requirements, and environmental loads such as wind,
seismic activity, motion and/or inclination of skid in FPSO or offshore applications.

Features in Wood's study

Skid deflections due to lifting are compared to industry or customer specifications.
Skid lifting lugs are appropriately sized.
The center of gravity is calculated.
Spreader bar and shackle design are recommended.
As an option, Wood can perform anchor bolt loading and a FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS (FEA) to evaluate localized skid flexibility,
gusset and equipment mounting design.
Report includes proposed modifications to the skid design and a summary of the applied loading and calculated results.

3.2 DYNAMIC SKID VIBRATION AND STRESS ANALYSIS – SCOPE AND FEATURES

Examples of FEA models used in the dynamic skid analysis to avoid resonance and vibration problems.

Scope
Define magnitude and frequency of dynamic loading on the skid. (Dynamic loads will vary depending upon the application.)
For reciprocating machines, the dynamic loads include unbalanced forces and moments, cross-head guide forces, gas rod load
forces, pulsation induced forces in piping and vessel, and unbalanced forces and moments in the driver.
Calculate skid vibration and stress and compare to industry or customer guidelines.
Consider boundary conditions from the foundation (pile, gravel pad, concrete block or steel structure).

Features in Wood's study

All compressor operating forces are applied vectorially to the model as dynamic loads.
Vibrations and stresses are calculated for each load step and operating case.
Engine unbalanced forces and moments are added to the operating load. Compressor gas forces and cross-head guide forces are
calculated by Wood and applied to the FE model as a dynamic load.
The appropriate damping ratio is applied based on Wood’s field experience.
Design modifications are provided where vibration or stress exceeds guideline.
If required, Wood can calculate stresses on the skid welds and compare to allowable limits.

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Report includes recommendations for the skid design and a summary of the applied loads and results (calculated mode shapes,
MNFs, and vibration amplitudes).

4 CUSTOMER BENEFITS
Skid design will comply with international standards (ABS, API, AISC) and customer specifications.
Ensure safe lifting, transportation, and operation.
Optimize skid costs by reducing unnecessary equipment and modifications.
Ensure sufficient stiffness (at key locations) to avoid vibration problems for components mounted on the skid.

5 WOOD ADVANTAGES
Cost effective and reliable design, based on Wood’s experience in skid and structural dynamics
Accurate FE models
Fast turnaround
Includes full system (machine dynamics and supporting foundation)

6 RELATED INFORMATION
SPECIFICATION FOR RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS (PDF)

OPTIMIZED SKID DESIGN FOR COMPRESSOR PACKAGES (GMRC 2013, PDF)

TRAINING MODULE 1: VIBRATION EQUATION, RESONANCE (VIDEO)

STRUCTURAL VIBRATION AND WAYS TO AVOID IT (PDF)

GMRC PROJECT: EQUIPMENT MOUNTING - STIFFNESS TESTING OF DIFFERENT CHOCKS AND SUPPORT DESIGNS (2014)

7 RELATED SERVICES
RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS – PULSATION AND MECHANICAL ANALYSIS

RECIPROCATING PUMPS – PULSATION AND MECHANICAL ANALYSIS

FOUNDATION DESIGN AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS

STRUCTURAL VIBRATION AND DYNAMIC DESIGN

Skid model used for lifting analysis Skid requires modification to meet AISC Code Detailed drawbar model to evaluate a new
(red areas exceed guideline) skid design

8 KEYWORDS
Seismic
Transportation
Wind
Wave
Environmental loads
Dynamic skid analysis
Machinery skid analysis

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MORE INFO
Pump Vibration Examples (Video) • Pulsations in Suction Piping (Reciprocating Pump) (Video) • Design Requirements for
Reciprocating Compressors • Machinery Condition & Performance Monitoring • Evaluating Compressor Operating Risks • Tips
for Managing a Successful Vibration Project • Specifications •

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