Water Hammer

Tackling Transient Events at San Jose Water Company

Jake Walsh, P.E.

Andy Yang, P.E.
October 21, 2014
 Introduction
• [map of SJWC]

Map data © 2014 Google

Introduction
What is Water Hammer?
Water hammer events (transient events) are
disturbances in water flow from one steady-state
condition to another.
(adapted from AWWA Manual M32; Mays, Water Resources Engineering 2005 Edition)

What are Typical Causes of Water

Hammer?
– Pump operations
– Valve operations
– Main breaks
– Rapid demand changes (hydrant flow)
Wave Propagation Animations

Pump Start Up

OFF
ON
Hi

Pressure Scale

Pump Shut Off

Low

ON
OFF
Hydraulic Transient Concerns at SJWC

Hydraulic transient related concerns at SJWC:

– Infrastructure damage
– Property damage
– Regulatory compliance
– Public safety (pipe ruptures)
– Public health (negative pressures)
– Complaints
Transient Analysis – Goals and Approach

• SJWC Goals
– Verify existence and extent of problem
– Determine mitigation measures

• SJWC Approach
– Obtain necessary knowledge and analysis tools
– Conduct field tests
– Analyze data
– Select surge protection devices
Transient Analysis – Vickery Pump Station

Background
– History of problems and mitigation efforts
– New booster pumps installed with pump control valves
– Surge tanks installed
Transient Analysis – Vickery Pump Station

Field Testing
– Select strategic locations to install pressure loggers
• Pump discharge
• High pressure regions
• Low pressure regions
• Dead end mains
– Coordinate with Operations department
• Pump operations
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Logger 1
Pump Discharge

Logger 3
High Pressure Hydrant

Logger 2
Low Pressure Service
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up – Pump Control Valve Setting 1
200
186 psi
190

180

170
Pressure (psi)

160

150

140

130

120

110
116 psi
100

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Shut Off – Pump Control Valve Setting 1
150
132 psi
140 10 s

130
120
110
100
Pressure (psi)

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
12 psi
20
10 11 psi
0
Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up and Shut Down – Pump Discharge 1

200
190 186 psi
180
170
160
150 132 psi
140
130
120
Pressure (psi)

110
100
116 psi
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20 11 psi
10
0

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up With Surge Tank - Pump Discharge 1
200
186 psi
190

180

170
160 psi
160
Pressure (psi)

150

140

130

120

110
116 psi
100

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Shut Off With Surge Tank - Pump Discharge 1
150
132 psi
140
130
120
110
100
Pressure (psi)

90
80
88 psi
70
60
50
40
30
20
11 psi
10
0

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up and Shut Down – Low Pressure Service 2
140
125 psi
130
120
110
100
90
73 psi
80
Pressure (psi)

70
60
50
63 psi
40
30
20
10
0
-10 -14.7 psi
-20

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up With Surge Tank – Low Pressure Service 2
130
125 psi
120

110

98 psi
100
Pressure (psi)

90

80

70

60
63 psi
50

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Shut Off With Surge Tank - Low Pressure Service 2
90
73 psi
80

70

60

50
Pressure (psi)

40
38 psi
30

20

10

-10
-14.7 psi
-20

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up and Shut Down – High Pressure Hydrant
210
3
197 psi
200

190

180
Pressure (psi)

170

Static Pressure ~ 171 psi Run Pressure ~ 173 psi

160

150

140
143 psi
130

120

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up With Surge Tank – High Pressure Hydrant
200
3
197 psi

195

190
188 psi
Pressure (psi)

185

180
Record Start Trigger ~ 178 psi

175
Record Stop Trigger ~ 173 psi

Static Pressure 171 psi

170

Time (s)
Transient
TransientAnalysis
Analysis––Vickery
VickeryPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Shut Off With Surge Tank – High Pressure Hydrant
190
3

180 Upper Record Start Trigger ~ 178 psi

Static Pressure 171 psi With surge tank online, transient waves
170
remained within recording triggers
Lower Record Start Trigger ~ 161 psi
Pressure (psi)

160

150

140
143 psi
130

120

Time (s)
Transient Analysis – Pavilion Pump Station

Background
– History of problems
– Mitigation efforts
Transient Analysis – Pavilion Pump Station

Field Testing
– Strategic locations to install pressure loggers
– Coordination with Operations department

Surge Modeling
– Calibration of existing system
– Future system (with surge protection device)
Transient Analysis – Pavilion
Vickery Pump
PumpStation
Station

Logger
Pump Discharge

Transmission Main Split

Reservoir
Transient Analysis – Vickery
PavilionPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up - Pump Discharge
201 psi 1
205
198 psi 1
2
195
Reflection wave from transmission main split 2

185 3

Reflection wave from reservoir 3

175
Pressure (psi)

165

155

145
145 psi
135

125
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (s)
Transient Analysis – Vickery
PavilionPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Shut Off - Pump Discharge
220
186 psi 200 psi 196 psi
200 186 psi
180
156 psi
160
Pressure (psi)

140

120

100

80

60
70 psi Reflection wave from reservoir
40
64 psi Reflection wave from transmission main split
20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Time (s)
Transient Analysis – Pavilion Pump Station

Initial Surge Tank Sizing:

𝟐𝑳
𝑻𝒄 =
𝒂
𝟐 × 𝟒, 𝟎𝟖𝟎 𝒇𝒕
𝑻𝒄 = = 𝟒. 𝟓 𝒔
𝟏, 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝒇𝒕/𝒔

𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 = 𝑻𝒄 × 𝑸

𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 = 𝟒. 𝟓 𝒔 × 𝟖. 𝟕 𝒈𝒂𝒍/𝒔 = 𝟒𝟎 𝒈𝒂𝒍

Transient Analysis – Vickery
PavilionPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up - 50% Water / 50% Air
201 psi
205
200 psi

195 40 gal
80 gal
185
160 gal
265 gal
175
Pressure (psi)

165

155

145
145 psi
135

125
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (s)
Transient Analysis – Vickery
PavilionPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Start Up - 35% Water / 65% Air
201 psi
205
200 psi

195
40 gal
80 gal
185
160 gal
265 gal
175
Pressure (psi)

165

155

145
145 psi
135

125
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (s)
Transient Analysis – Vickery
PavilionPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Trip - 2 Pumps 50% Water / 50% Air
260
236 psi
240
40 gal
220
80 gal
200 160 gal
265 gal
180

160
Pressure (psi)

140

120

100

80

60

40

20
15 psi
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Time (s)
Transient Analysis – Vickery
PavilionPump
PumpStation
Station
Pump Trip - 2 Pumps 35% Water / 65% Air
260
236 psi
240

220
80 gal
200 160 gal
180 265 gal
160
Pressure (psi)

140

120

100

80

60

40

20
15 psi
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Time (s)
Conclusion

• Hydraulic transients are regularly occurring in water

distribution systems
• Transient waves can be far more extreme than anticipated
• Transient waves propagate further than expected
• Certain surge protection devices can be very effective, others
not as effective
• Surge protection devices can help mitigate potential public
safety and public health concerns
• Surge modeling is highly recommended for sizing surge
protection devices
• More transient analysis needs to be performed
Contact Information

Jake Walsh, P.E.

Engineering Unit Manager
jake.walsh@sjwater.com

Andy Yang, P.E.

Associate Engineer
andy.yang@sjwater.com