Fluid-conveying pipes hold significant engineering value. In practical applications, pipes are often subjected to vibrations due to various factors. Excessive vibration amplitudes can cause damage to the pipe itself and its supporting structures, while even minor vibrations may lead to cumulative damage over time. Therefore, mitigating pipe vibrations has become a critical issue that needs to be addressed.In this study, a fluid-conveying pipe model is established based on the Timoshenko beam theory. The nonlinear energy sink (NES) cell, as a novel vibration suppression concept, is applied to reduce pipe vibrations. The governing equations of the system are derived using the generalized Hamilton’s principle, and the system’s natural frequencies are obtained through the complex modal method. The system’s response is solved using the harmonic balance method and numerical simulations. The influence of different NES cell quantities and installation configurations on vibration suppression efficiency is investigated. The study found that when external excitation is near specific frequencies, a single-point concentrated distribution exhibits superior vibration reduction performance, whereas multi-point concentrated and uniform distributions provide better vibration reduction efficiency for broadband excitation, providing theoretical guidance for vibration control in engineering pipes.