Pulsation dampeners for reciprocating pumps · Nitrogen precharge at 35–65% of system pressure, mounting at the discharge, flow and pressure range, bladder material
A pulsation dampener is a gas-charged vessel, with a bladder or similar separator between nitrogen and the pumped liquid, fitted at a reciprocating pump's discharge to absorb the pressure spikes each stroke creates and smooth the flow. Ask three things first: the pump flow and the system operating pressure, the precharge and temperature range, and the wetted and bladder materials for the liquid.
Bladder and diaphragm pulsation dampeners for plunger and piston pumps, from small high-pressure plunger pumps to drilling mud pumps, and their charging kits. Hydraulic energy-storage accumulators (see accumulators), surge tanks and water-hammer arrestors are outside this page.
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01
CAT Pumps' pulsation dampener instructions say to charge with dry nitrogen only, never oxygen, which may cause an explosion. At 70 °F, optimum dampening comes with precharge at 50% of system operating pressure; at lower temperatures precharge should be 15% higher (65% of system pressure) and at higher temperatures 15% lower (35%). Up to 50 psi of precharge can be lost while checking it, system pressure must be zero before checking, and a gas regulator must sit between the nitrogen tank and the filling assembly to prevent over-pressurisation. [2]
Its data sheet notes that rechargeable models leave the factory at 450 psi and that for optimal dampening at ambient temperature precharge should be about 50–60% of system operating pressure; a different precharge can be ordered. [1]
Editorial calculation: for a pump running at 1,000 psi, CAT's guidance gives a precharge of about 500 psi at 70 °F, about 650 psi in cold service and about 350 psi in hot service; the factory 450 psi charge would suit a system near 900 psi. [2] [1]
Give the supplier the pump type, flow and stroke rate, normal and maximum discharge pressure, liquid and its temperature, required precharge, connection size and material, and whether a sealed or rechargeable dampener and a charging kit are needed.
02
CAT Pumps says the dampener should be selected to match the system's flow and pressure and the liquid's compatibility, and mounted directly onto the pump discharge manifold for best dampening and to avoid vibration damage. [2] Its data sheet lists a sealed model for 15 gpm with best dampening at 300–600 psi and 250 psi precharge, and rechargeable models for 15 gpm across 100–3,000 psi (or 100–2,400 psi all-stainless) with a 0.16 L gas volume, a 4:1 safety factor, NBR bladders for +5 to 180 °F or FPM for up to 300 °F, and stainless wetted parts. [1]
For drilling mud pumps, Better Petro lists a pulsation dampener assembly among its drilling equipment and mud pump parts. [3]
03
IEQ Industries, which sells under the PulsationDampeners.com name, recommends fitting a pulsation stabiliser to the suction side of a plunger pump first and then to the discharge, stating that pulsation problems can be "traced to and remedied on the suction side of a pump" even when symptoms show on the discharge side. Its sizing guide asks for stroke length, connection sizes and types, suction and discharge pressures, and fluid type and temperature, and says the stabiliser opening should match the pump opening or be larger. For suction service it charges the cartridge with nitrogen only to 80–90% of suction pressure, or to the cartridge's maximum charge pressure if that is lower. Its cases are offered at rated operating pressures of 150, 450, 700, 1,440, 2,100, 3,600 and 5,000 psi, with openings from 1 to 8 in and cartridge gas volumes of 100 to 1,200 cubic inches; cartridges are rated at three times unit working pressure, and nitrile is the standard elastomer, with EPDM and TFE-encapsulated options. [4] [6] [5]
Editorial calculation: one cubic inch is 16.39 mL, so the 100, 300 and 1,200 cubic-inch cartridges hold about 1.6, 4.9 and 19.7 L of gas. For a pump with 40 psi suction pressure, the 80–90% rule gives a precharge of about 32–36 psi, while CAT Pumps' discharge guidance on this page sets about 50% of discharge pressure at 70 °F. [4] [2]
04
The suppliers linked to this page list pulsation dampeners or their parts; their cards link to the pages reviewed.
Ask any supplier for working pressure range and rated maximum pressure, gas volume, precharge as delivered, bladder or diaphragm material and temperature range, wetted materials, connection type and size, safety factor and certification, and the charging and gauging kit.
05
This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's specification.
| Part | Role | Fix in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure body | Contain gas and liquid. [1] | Material; safety factor. |
| Bladder or diaphragm | Separate nitrogen from liquid. [1] | NBR, FPM or other. |
| Gas valve | Charge and check precharge. [2] | Sealed or rechargeable. |
| Liquid port | Connect to the discharge. [1] [2] | Size; thread or flange. |
| Charging and gauging kit | Set precharge safely. [2] | Regulator; gauge. |
06
A pulsation dampener quotation needs values for your pump system. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Pressure (MPa) | e.g. 100–3,000 psi (6.9–207 bar). [1] | Working range. |
| Nominal Diameter (mm) | Body, e.g. 74.5 mm. [1] | Size. |
| Volume Capacity (L) | Gas volume, e.g. 0.16 L. [1] | Volume. |
| Operating Temperature (°C) | e.g. −15 to 82 °C NBR; to 149 °C FPM. [1] | Range. |
| Flow Rate (L/min) | e.g. 57 L/min (15 gpm). [1] | Maximum flow. |
| Pressure Drop (MPa) | Through the dampener. | Value. |
| Material (SS) | Stainless wetted parts. [1] | Body and port materials. |
| Weight (kg) | e.g. 0.84–1.02 kg. [1] | Mass. |
| Connection Type (inch) | e.g. ½ in NPT(M). [1] | Thread or flange. |
| Pulsation Reduction (%) | Depends on precharge vs pressure. [2] | Expected reduction. |
07
Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Pump: [type; flow; strokes per minute] Pressure: [normal; maximum] Precharge: [target; temperature] Liquid: [type; temperature] Build: [sealed or rechargeable; materials; connection] Kit: [charging and gauging assembly]
These companies list pulsation dampeners or their parts.
Lists pulsation dampener assemblies with mud pump parts and drilling equipment.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists pulsation dampeners with drilling and solids-control equipment.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists pulsation dampener diaphragms among drilling and workover equipment parts.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
CAT Pumps gives 50% of system operating pressure at 70 °F, 65% at low temperatures and 35% at high temperatures. [2]
CAT Pumps says to use dry nitrogen only and never oxygen, which may cause an explosion. [2]
Directly on the pump discharge manifold, for optimum dampening and to avoid vibration damage. [2]
One maker's charging instructions say nitrogen only, to 80–90% of suction pressure or the cartridge's maximum charge pressure, whichever is less. [6]
Sources checked 2026-10-12. CAT Pumps makes plunger pumps and pulsation dampeners and publishes data and instruction sheets; Better Petro is a supplier linked to this page.
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