How to choose and use the proper snubber, with examples

 A pressure snubber equalizes the rate at which a fluid or gas approaches the measuring point. In applications involving pressure gauges, installing a snubber won’t alter the process pressure. Still, it will minimize line pulsations, increasing gauge reading accuracy and extending the life of that specific gauge.

•         Price: Snubber’s pricing varies depending on several factors. The lowest-end device is the porous disc snubber; however, it can clog and not be modified. Although Piston snubbers are frequently more expensive, they can also be adjusted and don’t clog.

•         Housing material: Brass and stainless steel are the most common materials used for housing, although steel and Monel are sometimes used. Snubber pressure ratings are shown in the table below using brass and stainless steel as examples.

•         Snubber chemical compatibility: Brass or stainless steel are famous for snubbers and copper alloys. Though these snubbers usually are more expensive, stainless steel offers higher chemical resistance. A brass snubber will be a better option if your application doesn’t need these features. More details on the chemical compatibility of materials can be found on our page on Chemical Resistance of Materials sanitary thermowell and in our reference to housing materials.

1)      Brass snubber: Brass snubbers are suitable for neutral and non-corrosive media. Various media, such as water, (compressed) air, oils, and others, can be tolerated by them. However, distilled water, acids, chlorides, the ocean, or salt must not be used with brass.

2)      Stainless steel snubber: These have the advantage of being chemically resistant to almost any media except hydrochloric acids, chlorides, bromine, and household bleach. High resistance to abrasion, heat, and pressure are all present.

•         Dynamic load cycles: Pressure gauges are exposed to various transient intense loads, frequently referred to as vibrations or pulsations. These dynamic load cycles, such as those brought on by a reciprocating pump, can permanently harm the measurement apparatus. Before you purchase a snubber, find out how frequently your system is filled. Extra costs and damage to crucial components can be prevented by installing the right snubber for the load cycles in a system.

•         Temperature: High temperatures can affect pressure gauges and load cycling depending on the technique. In these conditions, including a siphon might be beneficial. The protection is especially adequate when load cycles and hot media Sanitary thermowell, including vapor, are present.

•         Pressure suitability: The pressure snubber you choose should be appropriate for the technique it will use. Installing a snubber rated for a lower pressure in a system experiencing high pressure will be challenging. Snubbers should be selected based on the pressure range that the system’s pressure has established. The range of snubber pressure ratings is from external pressures to 36,000 PSI (2500 bar). A snubber’s pressure rating will differ depending on its kind, orifice size, material, and thread size. The maximum pressure rating for each thread size for stainless steel and copper alloys is listed in the table below. Do you want additional information on pressure? Please read our page on pressures to learn more, including information on atmospheric and absolute pressure.

These are some suggestions that can be useful when selecting a snubber. As you shop, be sure to take each tip into account properly.