Technical Information

HISTORY

The Rotating Equipment Division of Kemlon has maintained a reputation of reliable service and consistent quality, in the Petroleum and Petrochemical Industries since 1950. Three manufacturing facilities with headquarters in Houston, Texas, insure prompt delivery on new equipment and spare parts. Strict quality control and inspection insure that all equipment and spare parts are manufactured from the best materials and to exact and proven specifications. This quality control is made possible by our total in-house manufacturing capability.

THE KEMLON DAMPENER

Kemlon offers a complete line of dampeners to remove or reduce pulsating surges in your process due to the action of reciprocating pumps.The simplicity of the dampeners make them easy to install and operatewith virtually no maintenance required. By using a reinforced teflon diaphragm (metal diaphragms are used at pressures over 2000( PSIG), and aselected process base or reagent head construction from the variousalloysteelsor plastics available, the dampenereasilywithstands corrosive acids or solvents that attack and destroy conventional elastomeric bladder type dampeners.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

Kemlon Pulsation dampeners are designed to smooth out the pulsating flows generated by positive displacement piston, cam, roller, gear, and diaphragm pumps. All Kemlon dampeners utilize a gas chamber isolated from the process side by a diaphragm. Positive displacement pumps handling non-compressible fluids will generate significant pressure surges due to the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the liquid during the sinusoidal cycle of the pump. This problem is often evidenced by hydraulic hammer in process lines, large pressure fluctuations, excessive wearand maintenance of pumps and instruments, and high instantaneous current measurementon electrical input to pumps. The dampener operates by absorbing a volume of liquid during the discharge cycle ofthe pump which displaces the diaphragm and compresses the gas in the gas chamber. Then, on the suction cycle of the pump, the fluid in the dampener is forced out by the compressed gas acting on the diaphragm, resulting in essentially smooth flow. This action enables the liquid to keep moving rather than accelerating, decelerating, and stopping, as happens when a dampener'is not utilized.
In some instances, the Kemlon dampener may be used to increase suction NPSH to the pump. This may be desirable in instances where suction lines may be small or lengthy, where viscuous processes are pumped, or when using high operating speeds.
Kemlon dampeners should be located as close as possible to the pump. The unit may be mounted in any convenient position either vertically, horizontally, or at any angle. A recommended charging pressure of 80% of the intended operating line pressure is advised for initial operation. This may be easily adjusted, however for optimum efficiency in your process by use ofthe gas charging valve and pressure gauge that accompanieseach dampener. For convenience, Kemlon can pre-charge dampeners with nitrogen for immediate operation.

CHOOSING THE DAMPENER

When choosing the correct size dampener for your process, it is necessary to determine the displacement per stroke of the pump. Total gallons per hour (GPH) or minute (GPM) is not considered since this is determined by the stroking speed of the pump.
Using the chart below, select the dampener model which has suitable materials of construction, falls within the pressure range of the process, and has liquid capacity greater than, or equal to, the displacement of one stroke of the positive displacement pump to be utilized.
Series 100 Surge Dampener Selection and Specification Chart
Model
Max Pump Disp/Stroke Cu. In.
Max Op Press PSIG
Max Op Temp. F
Process Side Constr
Diaphram Material
Shipping Weight / LB
Connection Size*
100 S5
10
2000
285
316 S.S.
TFE-Cord
52
1" NPT
100 S9
10
2000
285
Alloy 20
TFE-Cord
52
1" NPT
100 C1
10
2000
285
1018 Steel
TFE-Cord
52
1" NPT
100 N1
10
2000
285
HAST C
TFE-Cord
52
1" NPT
100 N2
10
2000
285
HAST B
TFE-Cord
52
1" NPT
100 N4
10
2000
285
Monel
TFE-Cord
52
1" NPT
100 T
10
2000
285
Titanium
TFE-Cord
50
1" NPT
100 T
10
2000
285
Ductile Iron
TFE-Cord
52
1" NPT
100 K
10
250
212
KYNAR
TFE-Cord
52
1" 150# RF Falange
Series 200
200 S5
20
2000
285
316 S.S
TFE-Cord
110
1" NPT
200 S9
20
2000
285
Alloy 20
TFE-Cord
110
1" NPT
200 C1
20
2000
285
1018 Steel
TFE-Cord
110
1" NPT
200 N1
20
2000
285
HAST C
TFE-Cord
110
1" NPT
200 N2
20
2000
285
HAST B
TFE-Cord
110
1" NPT
200 N4
20
2000
285
Monel
TFE-Cord
110
1" NPT
200 T
20
2000
285
Titanium
TFE-Cord
105
1" NPT
200 D1
20
2000
285
Ductile Iron
TFE-Cord
110
1" NPT
Series 13
13 S5
1.3
6000
250**
316 S.S.
301 S.S.
135
3/8" NPT
13 S9
1.3
6000
250**
Alloy 20
Alloy 20
135
3/8" NPT
13 C1
1.3
6000
250**
1018 Steel
301 S.S.
135
3/8" NPT
13 N1
1.3
6000
250**
HAST C
HAST C
135
3/8" NPT
13 N2
1.3
6000
250**
HAST B
HAST B
135
3/8" NPT
13 N4
1.3
6000
250**
Monel
Monel
135
3/8" NPT
13 T
1.3
6000
250**
Titanium
Titanium
125
3/8" NPT
** For Higher temp. - Pressure must be derated 
*All units can be supplied with a welding neck flange as an option except for model 100 K.

For Suction Lines

The Kemlon dampener can stabalize suction flow velocity and prevent cavitation. When employed in the suction line of a reciprocating pump the dampener enables the diaphram or plunger of the pump to fill the chamber on the suction stroke without cavitation. This is accomplished when the inlet to the pump os at its lowest rate, by the dampenerzccumulating the diffrence between the flow rate anf the mean flow rate. Thenm as the suction intake increases. the dampener discharges the diffrence between the mean and the maximum which is required.
 

 

For Discharge Lines

When employed in the discharge lines of reciprocating pumps the dampener inhibits rapid accelerations and decelerations in the process fluid by releasing or asorbing the requsite volume of fluid required to approach a mean velocity. By doing so, the pulsations resulting from the reciprocating action of the pump are removed and smooth flows are possible.