The failure principle of reciprocating compressor air valve was studied, a series of destructive experiments were carried out on the 2D-90MG two-row one-stage reciprocating compressor test platform for the inlet valve and exhaust valve, and various kinds of fault simulation of the air valve were carried out to ensure that the vibration signals collected were consistent with the actual situation to the greatest extent. Through the design of air valve fault simulation experiment, the experimental platform was set up to collect the air valve vibration signal data. By analyzing the vibration signal data in time domain and frequency spectrum, the vibration signal characteristics of air valve were summarized, and the fault types of the air valve were preliminarily diagnosed.