The purpose of the pulsation dampeners (suction, discharge and maintenance free) is to reduce cavitation, vibrations and noise within a pumping system. When a suction dampener is installed close to the pump inlet, it will reduce the chance for cavitation and extend the pumps life and reduce wear on the manifold and suction valves. Installed on the discharge side, a discharge dampener will attenuate pump generated pressure pulsations. This will decrease mechanical vibration and noise. Optimum pump performance can be achieved when both suction sampeners and discharge Dampeners are installed to the pump inlet and discharge. Flow-through Maintenance-free suction and discharge dampener designs are also available.

The control of liquid dynamics is essential to ensure efficient and safe use of process systems. Uncontrolled liquid in motion can physically destroy a pumping system, including the pump, piping, valves, meters, rupture disks and other in-line instrumentation and equipment.

A pump puts liquid in motion by adding energy to it. This kinetic energy is carried in the liquid and slowly lost into the piping system through friction. When the liquid in morion is suddenly stopped or started, the kinetic energy is released in the form of a pressure spike. This occurs since liquids are not compressible and therefore transfer the shock of the sudden pressure change. This is called the water hammer effect and is similar to a hammer hitting a concrete wall. When hitting a concrete wall with a hammer some energy goes into the wall, a little is lost to friction, but most goes back into the arm, vibrating the hammer out of the users hand.

Both positive displacement pumps and quick closing valves start and stop liquids that are in motion. Positive displacement pumps drive their pumping action by capturing a given amount of liquid in a chamber and pushing it out the pump's discharge. Each pump cycle includes a suction stroke during which liquid flow is stopped. The stroke rate of a pump can reach into the hundreds and even into the thousands per minute. This pumping action produces an acceleration / deceleration of the liquid, creating units of uncontrolled energy, resulting in pulsation, observed as pressure spikes.

Quick closing valves start and stop large volumes of liquid in motion. The velocity, the volume, and the density of the liquid all have effect on the pressure spike created when the valve is shut and kinetic energy is released. Without any type of cushion to absorb the energy, a high pressure surge is created, traveling up to the speed of sound. This hydraulic shock travels as a compression wave back and forth through the entire pipe system until it is finally dissipated by friction or a system component fails.