A Study on Pressure

Characteristics in the
Snubber of Hydrogen Gas
Compressor

by: Wanda Ali Akbar

Thermal and Fluid Laboratory in
Gyeongsang National University, Korea.
Experimental Background

1. Increasing demand on hydrogen energy

since the increasing of fossil energy.
2. Improving the performance of hydrogen
gas installation system therefore it’s
economically reliable.
3. The need of advanced research on
characteristic of hydrogen compressing
system.

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Snubber Description
Hydrogen Gas Compressing System

Snubber

In Out

Recipr. Compr.

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Snubber Functions
Mechanical Aspect:
• Keep the pressure value in the high level.
• Decrease the pressure amplitude as
much as possible.

Chemical Aspect:
• Remove the impurities contained in
Hydrogen Gas.
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 Experimental Objectives
• Observing reduction of pressure and its
fluctuation (Amplitude) in the compressing
system utilizing Snubber.
• Experimentally comparing between with-buffer
and without-buffer type of Snubber, then
select the better one for advance
investigation.
• Making CFD simulation to study the pressure
characteristics. 5
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Basic Theory

p max + p min
p=
2

p max − p min
A=
2
p : pressure value
A : pressure amplitude

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 Mtr F re q. R egulator

Snu bber Sens or P robe s Signal Amp li fi er

Da ta PC
Inlet Pi pe Out le t Log ge r
Pi pe

Piston C omp.

Dr iver M otor

Ai r C ompress or
Uni t

Fi g. 1 Ex pe riment al Se tup
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 With Buffer Type

Snu bber
In let

Snubber Ou tlet

Buffer

Fi g. 2 Sens ors P osi tioni ng

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Experimental Equation
f set
ωmot = × ωmax ; f max = 60 Hz; ωmax = 1800rpm
f max
ωmot [rpm] = f set [ Hz ] × 30[rpm / Hz ]
d pu ln ot
ω comp = × ω mot ; d pulmot = 137 mm; d pulcomp = 320mm
d pulcomp
ωcomp [rpm] = f set [ Hz ] ×12.84[rpm / Hz ]; ωcomp max = 770rpm
ω comp [rpm]
f comp [ Hz ] =
60[sec/ min]
f comp [ Hz ] = f set [ Hz ] × 0.214; f comp max= 12.84 Hz

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 Motor Fr eq. 1 0 H z Motor Fre q. 4 0 H z

Motor Fr eq. 2 0 H z Motor Fre q. 5 0 H z

Motor Fr eq. 3 0 H z Motor Fre q. 6 0 H z

Fi g. 3 Real Ti me Pre ssur e Osc il lat ion

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 Fi g. 4 Pres sur e Fluct uat ion P lo tte d Dat a
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 Ared = Ain − Aout
Ared
Ared (%) = × 100%
Ain
Fi g. 5 Stud y on
Pres sur e Ampl it ud e (A)
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 p red = pin − p out
p red
p red (%) = × 100%
pin
Fi g. 8 Stud y on
Pressu re Value (p)
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Experimental Result Summary

Type With Without Note

Prm buffer buffer
Ared higher std Higher is better.
pred lower std Lower is better.

From the two parameters investigated in this

study, with buffer type is better.

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Meshing Model for Numerical
Analysis

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Some Numerical settings

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Numerical Result Verification

p red
p red = pin − p out p red (%) = × 100%
pin
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Pressure Distribution inside the snubber at
respective Motor Frequency

10 Hz 20 Hz 30 Hz

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Pressure Distribution inside the snubber at
respective Motor Frequency

40 Hz 50 Hz 60 Hz

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Pressure distribution along Y axis
inside the Snubber

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Particle Track inside the Snubber

at 50 Hz Motor
Frequency

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Conclusion

• Numerical analysis in order to describe pressure distribution

inside the snubber have been done. The verification for this is
shown in previous pictures. It is seen very close result between
numerical and experimental result.
• Inside the snubber the lower part has higher pressure than the
upper part.
• Some critical areas inside the snubber are: buffer surface
adjacent the inlet pipe, bottom wall, top wall and small area
• Quantitative value of pressure is represented by pressure
distribution in the y-axis. All of these graphs give the same pattern
for all value of inlet pressure.
• The particle track distribution shows the eddy in the lower part
that causes the pressure increasing in it. The smaller eddy
occurred in the upper part as result of remaining empty space in
it.

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 THE END
Thank You Very Much
For Your Time!

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