International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences

www.ijetmas.com May 2015, Volume 3, Issue 5, ISSN 2349-4476

Analysis of Water Hammering in Pipeline and its CFD

Simulation
Sahil Lahane, Rachana Patil, Rashmi Mahajan, Kavita Palve
Department of Mechanical
Engg., SKNCOE,
Pune, India
ABSTRACT
Water hammer is a transient flow in pipes which is created by sudden changes of velocity in pipe
lines. This phenomenon can cause strong positive and negative pressures in water conveyance pipes
and usually it poses pipeline to danger. Water hammer is created by rapidly closing valves, shutting
off or suddenly restarting pumps. It has destructive hydrodynamic effects in pressurized pipelines.
This phenomenon cannot be eliminated but can be reduced by using different protection devices. In
this study, the pipeline has been modeled using the GAMBIT software. Further, the steady state
pressure drop and governing equations of water hammer are numerically simulated using FLUENT
software. The simulation helps the designers to have good understanding of water hammer
phenomenon and work on the ways to reduce the same.
Key words
Water hammer, Transient flow, Pump Positive and negative pressure, GAMBIT, FLUENT

1. Introduction [2,1]
Many researchers have used experimental as well as theoretical methods to examine the phenomena
of the water hammer in straight pipes. Under unfavorable circumstances, damage due to water
hammer may occur in pipelines measuring more than one hundred meters and conveying only
several tenths of a liter per second. But even very short, unsupported pipelines in pumping stations
can be damaged by resonant vibrations if they are not properly anchored the damage caused by water
hammer by far exceeds the cost of preventive analysis and surge control measures. The ability to
provide reliably designed surge control equipment, such as an air vessel or accumulator1, flywheel
and air valve, has long been state of the art. Water Sector clearly states that pressure transients have
to be considered when designing and operating water supply systems, because they can cause
extensive damage. This means that a surge analysis to industry standards has to be performed for
every hydraulic piping system at risk from water hammer. Dedicated software is available for this
purpose.
Using CFD tool we are making efforts to preview the effect of water hammer and suggest methods to
reduce the same. Through modeling of pipe networks pressure surge analysis for piping systems with
different objectives are investigated. The results of pressure surge analysis are used to optimize the
system/piping system or are used for assessment of plant safety.
1.1 What is water hammer [1]
The term ‗water hammer‘ is used to describe the fluid flow characteristics when a fluid in motion is
forced to stop in closed systems such as a pipe network. This phenomenon produces intense pressure
waves that travel periodically along the pipe. Water hammer mostly occurs in piping systems, e.g., in
power plants and urban water carrier systems, due to a sudden change in the flow rate during a
sudden closure (or opening) of a valve or pump failure. In general we can say hydraulic transients or
surge is a phenomenon in a closed conduit or pipe is associated with rapid changes in discharge or
velocity is accompanied by a change in pressure, which propagates through the pipe.
1.2 Causes of water hammer [4,7]
Water hammer is mainly caused due to sudden closing of valves. When valve closes, there is high
pressure spikes generation due to which pipe suffers vibration and thudding sound.
250 Sahil Lahane, Rachana Patil, Rashmi Mahajan, Kavita Palve
 International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences

www.ijetmas.com May 2015, Volume 3, Issue 5, ISSN 2349-4476

Typical events that require transient considerations include:

1. Pump startup or shutdown;
2. Valve opening or closing -variation in cross-sectional flow area
3. Changes in boundary pressures -e.g. losing overhead storage tank, adjustments in the water level
at reservoirs, pressure changes in tanks, etc.
4. Rapid changes in demand conditions -e.g. hydrant flushing
5. Changes in transmission conditions -e.g. main break or line freezing
6. Pipe filling or draining—air release from pipes; and
7. Check valve or regulator valve action

Fig 1: Water Hammer phenomenon

1.3 Effects of water hammer [6]
The above phenomenon may cause the following problems:
1. When the non-return valve or the pump discharge valve closes, depending on the magnitude of the
reverse flow already established, a pressure rise occurs, which may exceed the design/test pressure of
the pipe.
2. During the initial down surge phase, the magnitude of the pressure drop may be such that, at an
elevated location along the alignment, vapor pressure occurs. This is termed as water column
separation, which on cavity collapse create a shock pressure rise, which travels on the both sides and
may cause the pressure to exceed design/test pressure. For large diameter steel pipes, the occurrence
of vapor pressure is a severe problem.
3. Pump damage
4. Intense pressure spikes
5. Bursting of pipes, seals
6. Destroyed meters and gauges

Fig 2: Effects of water hammer

251 Sahil Lahane, Rachana Patil, Rashmi Mahajan, Kavita Palve

 International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences

www.ijetmas.com May 2015, Volume 3, Issue 5, ISSN 2349-4476

2. EXISTING TECHNIQUES [6]

Water hammer effect is studied practically on basis of theoretical data and calculations. After that to
reduce water hammer, some protecting devices are installed on the pipeline. Following surge
protection systems are considered to control high and pressure and vacuum conditions in pipeline-
 Surge Vessel (Air Chamber)
 Surge Tanks
 Air Valves (Vacuum Valve)
 Zero Velocity Valve

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION[8,9]

To study the dynamics of flow mathematically, CFD technology is used. Computational Fluid
Dynamics or CFD is the analysis of systems involving fluid flow, heat transfer and associated
phenomena such as chemical reactions by means of computer based simulation. The technique is
very powerful and spans a wide range of industrial and non-industrial applications areas.
CFD tool is thus used to analyze the flow through pipeline in order to locate critical location in
pipeline where water hammer is severe. Therefore before installation of protecting devices on pipe,
the water hammer and its variation along the pipe is analyzed using CFD tool. This will reduce cost
and time consumption required to analyze the effect than practical method.
In this analysis we are using CFD tool- Gambit for pipe modeling and meshing and Ansys Fluent for
analyzing the water hammer.

Fig. 3 Gambit model

3.1 Steady state analysis
The plot shows normal working pressure line which is steady state plot.

252 Sahil Lahane, Rachana Patil, Rashmi Mahajan, Kavita Palve

 International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences

www.ijetmas.com May 2015, Volume 3, Issue 5, ISSN 2349-4476

1) Fluent Result
"Surface Integral Report"
Area-Weighted Average
Static Pressure (Pascal)
-------------------------------- --------------------
Inlet 11008.202
Outlet 0
-------------------------------- --------------------
Pressure drop 11008.202
2) Calculated Result

Here pressure drop = 238.72 mbar = 23872 Pascal

The calculator shows double value as it considers resistance from the vertical walls as well. Our
Fluent simulation being 2D, we just consider the horizontal walls.
Therefore, Pressure Drop = 23872/2 = 11936 Pascal

253 Sahil Lahane, Rachana Patil, Rashmi Mahajan, Kavita Palve

 International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences

www.ijetmas.com May 2015, Volume 3, Issue 5, ISSN 2349-4476

Validation
Calculated Pressure Drop – Fluent Pressure Drop = 11936 – 11008.202
= 927.798 pascal
Therefore, Percentage Pressure Variation = (927.798/11936)*100
= 7.77 %
This shows that fluent calculations are within the valid range.
3.2 Transient analysis
As per the steps followed in transient analysis, the water hammer phenomenon will be generated.
The drastic pressure spikes along the interior of the pipeline are shown by color scheme.

Significance of contour plot:

Dark blue colour shows minimum pressure value and red colour shows maximum pressure value.
Flowing water possesses inertia. When the valve closes, high pressure waves generated travel to and
fro until the pressure is dissipated and is shown by the red colour in the graph.
1. Inlet
Due to sudden valve closure, there is negative pressure generation i.e. vacuum is created. This
variation is shown by blue colour at inlet section.
2. Middle section
As the pressure waves progress, there is pressure variation as shown.
3. Outlet
For 0.1 sec the high pressure spikes do not reach the outlet yet. As a result, the pressure at outlet is
minimum but greater than vacuum pressure at inlet.
By contour plot, critical vacuum and high pressure regions are detected so that protection devices are
chosen and installed accordingly.

4.CONCLUSION
Water hammer phenomenon cannot be completely eliminated but it can be minimized by using
various protection devices like zero velocity valve, air valve, surge vessel, surge tank etc. In steady
state analysis, we get the pressure distribution along the interior of the pipeline i.e. working pressure.
When water hammer occurs, due to sudden closure of valve, the water due to inertia travels forward
and vacuum is created as there is no further supply of water. Flow reversal occurs due to the slope
254 Sahil Lahane, Rachana Patil, Rashmi Mahajan, Kavita Palve
 International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences

www.ijetmas.com May 2015, Volume 3, Issue 5, ISSN 2349-4476

and bangs on the valve creating high surge waves. If the pressure due to these waves is greater than a
particular limit then it may cause severe damage to pipeline and its accessories. To avoid this,
analysis is done to identify the critical locations of positive high pressures and negative low
pressures and accordingly protection devices can be installed.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We take this opportunity to thank all the people who have helped us in completing our project,
without whom the completion of this project would not have been possible. First of all we would like
to thank our esteemed guide, Prof. V. V. UGLE, for his guidance at all the times and that he
provided his support and guidance without complains at any time of the day and also for the bright
ideas and inputs that they gave to the project.
We would also like to thank Prof. A. P. PANDHARE (HOD MECHANICAL) for his keen interest
and Cooperation towards our project. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to SKNCOE, Pune,
for providing facilities like Internet and Library. We would also like to convey thanks to all those
who directly and indirectly helped us in completing project.

6. REFERENCES
1. ―Computation of laminar and turbulent waterhammer flows‖, S. D. Saemi, M. Raisee, M. J.
Cervantes and A. Nourbakhsh, Hydraulic Machinery Research Institute (HMRI), University of
Tehran,
2. ―Waterhammer Analysis—Essential and Easy .and Efficient.‖, Professor don j wood, Journal of
Environmental Engineering, Vol.131, No. 8, August 1, 2005. ©ASCE
3. ―Water hammer‖ K S B Know - how, Volume 1
4. ―Hydraulic transient guidelines for protecting water distribution systems‖, Paul f. Boulos, Brayan
w. Karney, Don J. Wood, ShrinivasaLingireddy, American water works association may 2005
5. ―Water hammer analysis of pipeline system‖, Rafiq Hama Osman
6. www.wikipedia.com
7. www.google.com
8. ―CFD Applications in Various Heat Exchangers Design: A Review‖,AhmerRais Khan,
AslamBhutta Muhammad Mahmood, KanwarNaveed Ahmad, Muhammad Hassan Bashir, Nasir
Hayat, Sarfaraz Khan, Applied Thermal Engineering, 32, (2012), 1-12
9. ―Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics‖, H.K. Versteeg and W. Malalasekera, ,John
Wiley & Sons Inc. , Third avenue, New York (1996)
10. GAMBIT (2.4.6), Help File, Chapter-(1-8)

255 Sahil Lahane, Rachana Patil, Rashmi Mahajan, Kavita Palve