Water Hammer

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 1

What is Steady State?

When flow and pressure in the system is kept
unchanged with time, this is called a steady state
condition.
Steady state conditions are very rare in most
water distribution works as the demands keep
changing all the time (especially in networks).
One steady state condition is when the fluid is at
rest.

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 2

What is Transient Flow?

Transient flow are transitions of long or short
duration, from one steady flow state to another.
There are Two types of transients:
Quasi-Steady Flow
Variation of discharges and pressures with time is
gradual.
Over short time intervals the flow appears to be steady
Draining of large tank, demand variation in a network,
etc are all examples of Quasi-Steady Flow
Characterized by the absence of Inertial or Elastic
effects on the flow behavior
Quasi-Steady Flow can be modeled in WaterGEMS as
Extended Period Simulation (EPS)
Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 3

What is Transient Flow?

There are Two types of transients:
Water Hammer Condition
Variation of discharge and pressure with time is Abrupt.
The effects of Fluid Inertia, Fluid Compressibility, and
Pipe Elasticity are Essential and must be considered.
Sudden Valve Closure is an example of a water hammer
condition
It is a more complete and general characterization of the
flow but is more complicated.
Water Hammer condition can be modeled in HAMMER
A less severe form of water hammer is called Surge

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 4

Causes of Water Hammer

Includes any scenario that causes rapid change
in velocity
Uncontrolled Pump trip (Power failure)
Rapid Closure of Valves
Pump Startup
Filling of water mains (Venting of pipelines)
Check Valve Slam
Water Hammer is accompanied by excessive
pressures (positive and negative) and forces in
the system
Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 5

Sudden Valve Closure

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 6

Sudden Valve Closure

Ideal Flow:
Assuming Ideal Flow (No Friction)
and the valve was initially opened
When the Valve is Suddenly Closed,
Large force is needed to decelerate
the fluid and this force appears in the
system as pressure

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 7

Sudden Valve Closure

Ideal Flow:
Sudden increase in pressure occurs
at the valve location
This pressure wave propagates
upstream at the speed of sound in
the medium (a)
This is accompanied by pipe
stretching (pipe bulge) and increase
in fluid density inside the pipe
Extra volume of fluid is stored in the
pipeline !

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 8

Sudden Valve Closure

The H Equation

To Calculate H

H: increase in pressure
head
a:

Wave speed

V: Change in velocity

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 9

Sudden Valve Closure

Wave Speed Calculations
Ranges from 300m/sec for PVC pipes up to 1400m/s
for steel pipes.
Depends on Fluid properties, Pipe material, and
longitudinal restraint allowance
D: Pipe Diameter
K: Bulk Modulus
: Fluid Density

e: Pipe Wall Thickness

E: Youngs Modulus
C: Pipe Restraint Case
: Poissons Ratio
Case (a): Fixed from one end
Case (b): Totally Fixed
Case (c): Flexible joints

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 10

Sudden Valve Closure

Wave Speed Calculations
D: Pipe Diameter
K: Bulk Modulus
: Fluid Density

e: Pipe Wall Thickness

E: Youngs Modulus
C: Pipe Restraint Case
: Poissons Ratio

For Thick Walled pipes D/e > 40

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 11

Sudden Valve Closure

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 12

Sudden Valve Closure

Ideal Flow

Fluid accumulates inside the pipeline

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

Relief Backflow to the tank starts

May 2013
Slide 13

Sudden Valve Closure

Ideal Flow

The valve stops the Relief Backflow

and Negative wave is produced
Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

Relief flow from the tank starts again

May 2013
Slide 14

Sudden Valve Closure

Considering Friction
When considering
Friction, effect of
Line Packing and
Wave attenuation
appears especially
in long pipelines
The produced
pressure wave
Dampens with time

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 15

Sudden Valve Closure

Downstream of Valves
Pressure will drop suddenly by the decelerating water
column forming a huge vacuum cavity
Often the fluid will return to collapse the cavity causing
severe water hammer pressure
High pressure

Liquid stationary
Closed valve
(or tripped pump)

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

Low pressure

Liquid flowing
steadily

Cavity growing
(vacuum)

May 2013
Slide 16

Tripped Pumps
Downstream of the pumps
Similar to valve closure, Pressure will drop by the
decelerating water column and can form a huge
vacuum cavity
Often the fluid will return to collapse the cavity causing
severe water hammer pressure

Upstream of the pumps

Pressure will rise
Water hammer is not as
severe as sudden valve
closure because pumps
dont stop rotating suddenly

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

Pressure Rise Upstream

Cavity growing
(vacuum)

E-43

May 2013
Slide 17

Check Valve Slam

After Power Failure
Downstream column decelerates till it completely stops
and then reverse flow starts
Check valves form an
uncontrolled positive
Reverse flow
after pump trip
feedback closure rising
Slams shut
pressures in the system

E-48

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 18

Filling of Water Mains

Unstable operation while gas is being flushed out
Sudden pressure rise due to collapse between
moving liquid column and static liquid column
Moving Liquid Column

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

Air

Static Liquid Column

May 2013
Slide 19

Filling of Water Mains

Sudden pressure rise when obstacles to the flow
are present
Orifice, Partially closed
) Just be o e(Restrictor
t e st e
Valves)
Liquid flowing
quickly

Air

E-39

st

Restrictor - orifice

Shock wave
Liquid flowing
quickly

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

Liquid flowing
less quickly

Air

May 2013
Slide 20

How Severe a Water Hammer

Condition Can be

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 21

Water Hammer
Pressure surge during a repressurizing of the
pipeline serving the Point McIntyre field in Alaska
led to BP shutting down the 20,000 b/d field.
The surge caused the line to shift from some of
its supports. No oil was spilled as a result of the
surge.
(Reuters, 10:51 August 16, 2006)

Blown Expansion Joints

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 22

Water Hammer

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 23

Water Hammer

Pipe burst during commissioning tests of 150 km, 1.6 m Diam. Pipe.
Control valve closed too early
Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 24

Water Hammer

Check valve closure caused severe pipe motion

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 25

Conclusions

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 26

Conclusions
Water Hammer results from any rapid change in
flow conditions
This is accompanied by high pressures and
forces in the system that may cause damage of
pipeline and equipment
Do we need Protection from water hammer?

YES !
Then we must predict it first

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 27

Conclusions
Where does it occur?
In Any pipeline system vulnerable to rapid changes in flow
conditions

Any length
Any Diameter
Any Liquid
Any Pipe Material

Warning Signs:

High Flow Rates

Significant Elevation Differences
Intermediate Peaks along pipelines
Long Pipelines

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 28

Conclusions
It is necessary to know enough to spot the Danger
Signs
Solutions to the problems can be quite simple
Ignoring the problem can lead to a disaster
Complex high risk situations need expert
modeling and design solutions
Keep in mind that we all keep learning all the
time!!

Design of Pipelines and Pump Stations

May 2013
Slide 29