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High Institute of Engineering and Technology: (Water Hammer

The document discusses water hammer, which is a pressure surge caused when a fluid flowing in pipes is forced to stop suddenly. It forms when condensation builds up inside steam pipes, forming slugs that move quickly until hitting obstacles. This causes the kinetic energy of the slug to turn into high pressure that can damage pipes and equipment. Proper pipe installation and maintenance can help prevent water hammer, but it still poses a safety risk if not addressed since it can burst pipes over time from erosion or sudden pressure spikes.

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Ahmed Ebrahem
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54 views

High Institute of Engineering and Technology: (Water Hammer

The document discusses water hammer, which is a pressure surge caused when a fluid flowing in pipes is forced to stop suddenly. It forms when condensation builds up inside steam pipes, forming slugs that move quickly until hitting obstacles. This causes the kinetic energy of the slug to turn into high pressure that can damage pipes and equipment. Proper pipe installation and maintenance can help prevent water hammer, but it still poses a safety risk if not addressed since it can burst pipes over time from erosion or sudden pressure spikes.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Ebrahem
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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High institute of engineering and technology

Chemical engineering department

4 year

(water hammer)

By:

Ahmed Ibrahim ahmed

ID/17004

Head of department/ Dr. safaa fouda


Water Hammer:

Content:

1-introduction

2-formation of water hammer

3-impact of water hammer


Causes, Effects and Solutions

Introduction to Water Hammer


Water hammer is a commonly observed phenomenon taking place during a fluid
flow. Presence of water hammer can be easily detected by the noise it makes.
Noise is not the final effect of water hammer but just an indication of it. Water
hammer has multiple adverse effects on steam systems. Water hammer can
damage equipments like flow meters which are installed on the steam network.
Instances of rupture and disruption of piping on account of water hammer are
also quite common. In a few cases, water hammer has resulted into catastrophic
hazards. Water hammer is not only a system issue but it is also a safety issue.
Water hammer can be defined as follows-

Water hammer is a pressure surge or wave caused when a fluid (usually a liquid
but sometimes also a gas) in motion is forced to stop or change direction
suddenly (momentum change).

As soon as steam leaves the boiler, it starts losing heat. As a result, steam stats
condensing inside the pipe work. The rate of condensate formation is high
particularly during the start ups when the system is cold. As a result of the
condensation, the droplets of water are formed. These droplets of condensate get
built up along the length of steam pipework forming a solid slug. When this slug
encounters any obstacle such as a bend, it will be brought to a halt abruptly. All
the kinetic energy of the condensate slug will get converted into pressure energy
which has to be absorbed by the pipe work. This gives rise to the phenomenon of
water hammer.
Formation of water hammer
Formation of water hammer can be understood very well from the diagrams below.
Formation of water hammer
After condensate is formed, the flow inside the pipe has two components, steam
and the condensate. The flow velocity of steam is much higher than that of the
condensate. During such dual phase flow, the heavy condensate which flows at the
bottom of the pipe is pulled by high speed steam. This results in formation of water
slug which is much denser than steam travelling with the velocity of steam. When
this slug is stopped by any abruption like a bend or equipment, the kinetic energy
of the slug will be suddenly converted into pressure energy which will create a
shock wave in the entire pipework. The pipework will keep on vibrating until this
energy is dissipated in the structure.

The impact of water hammer


One might wonder why water hammers are thought to be a serious problem. The
destructive nature of water hammer can be realized through the following
illustration:
Recommended velocity of saturated steam in pipe network = 20-35 m/s
Recommended velocity of water in pipe network= 2-3m/s
In case of water hammers, condensate is dragged by steam and hence, the water
slug travels with velocity equal to that of steam which is around ten times more
than the ideal water velocity. As a result, the total pressure impact exerted by water
hammer is very high.

Best practices to avoid water hammer


Though water hammer cannot be completely eliminated from steam systems, it can
certainly be avoided. There are certain best practices, which when followed, ensure
least chances of occurrence of water hammer. Some of these practices are-
1. Steam lines should always be installed with a gradual slope (gradient) in
direction of flow.
2. Installing steam traps at regular intervals and also at the low points. This
ensures removal of condensate from the steam system as soon as it is
formed.
3. Sagging of pipes should be avoided by providing proper support.
Sagging pipes can form pool of condensate in the pipework, increasing the
chances of water hammer.
4. Operators should be trained to open isolation valve slowly during the
start-up modes.
5. Drain pockets should be properly sized to ensure that condensate just not
jumps over it. Instead, the drain pockets should be sized enough so that all
the condensate reaches the trap.
6. Reducers- Eccentric reducers should be used against concentric reducers

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T FIX A WATER


HAMMER?
You may not think anything of the knocking noises at first, but the sound it makes
is just a precursor to the damage it can cause, even after just a single occurrence
depending on the state of your plumbing system.

Pressure Gauge and Flow Meter Damage


Even if your pressure gauge is set to the correct levels and works correctly, a water
hammer can still damage it. The water hammer’s resulting shockwave from the
pressure buildup shoots straight to the pressure gauge, where it spikes to a
damaging level.

Blown Diaphragm
A blown diaphragm also results from the immense pressure that accompanies the
water hammer effect. In a pressure tank, the diaphragm separates air and water.
When the diaphragm blows, the pressure system cannot regulate water flow,
meaning you might get stuck with a constant water flow.

Gasket Damage
Pipe joint gaskets were not built to withstand high-pressure levels. When a water
hammer occurs, the gaskets may weaken or spurt leaks as a means of absorbing the
effect’s shock.

Erosion
Over time, the water logjam can slowly work away at the pipe system. The
condensation or water can weather and erode the pipes making them weak and thin
the materials allowing for leaks. Erosion can also weaken the joints where pipes
are joined together making them unstable and giving them the potential to burst
literally at the seam.

Water Hammer Can Burst Pipes?


Yes. A water hammer can cause a pipe rupture which results from a break in the
pipe system. This effect occurs if the pipe is not equipped to handle the pressure
and instead ruptures or bursts. This can also happen when the pipe joints weaken
from the pressure of the hydraulic shock.

The water hammer sound comes from the physical pipe vibration. If the pressure is
too great and the pipes too weak, the vibrating can result in banging pipes that are
more likely to burst. A pipe rupture or burst is one of the more extreme, dangerous
causes of a water hammer.

References:
https://www.electricsolenoidvalves.com/blog/what-is-the-water-hammer-effect/

https://www.forbesmarshall.com/Knowledge/SteamPedia/Steam-
Distribution/Water-Hammer-Causes-Effects-and-Solutions

https://empoweringpumps.com/preventing-water-hammer-from-damaging-pumps-
and-pipes/

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