Predicting　valve　motion　and　pressure　pulsation　accurately　plays　an　important　role　in　evaluating　thermo-dynamic　performance　of　reciprocating　compressors.　In　this　paper,　a　3-dimensional　(3D)　computational　fluid　dynamics　(CFD)　model　of　a　double　acting　reciprocating　compressor　was　presented,　in　which　a　mesh　mapping　method　was　proposed　to　realize　the　independent　motion　of　each　valve　plate.　Consequently,　the　transient　flow　inside　the　compressor　and　the　interaction　between　valve　motion　and　pressure　pulsation　could　be　resolved　simultaneously.　Moreover,　two　kinds　of　turbulence　models,　i.e.　the　RNG　k-epsilon　mode　and　the　DES　model,　were　applied　to　examine　their　effect　on　pressure　pulsation.　Comparison　between　numerical　models　and　experimental　results　showed　that　both　turbulence　models　can　predict　the　thermo　dynamic　performance　precisely　regardless　of　some　discrepancies　on　the　valve　lift.　An　FFT　analysis　showec　that　the　RNG　k-epsilon　model　predicted　the　pressure　pulsation　fairly　well　below　500　Hz.　However,　the　DES,　model　could　resolve　much　higher　frequencies　of　over　1500　Hz　within　an　error　range　of　10%　at　420　rpm.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved