![]() ![]() One pound of steam at 0 psi occupies 1,600 times the volume of a pound of water at atmospheric conditions. When a column of water is slowed before it is stopped, its momentum is reduced gradually therefore, damaging water hammer will not be produced. Slow closure of the valve, just like slowly closing a faucet, is the solution to this problem. ![]() As the pump starts and stops, hydraulic shock can occur as the flow rapidly stops and the check valves restrict the flow in one direction. Pumps are often installed with check valves. The same action can take place in the suction or discharge piping in a steam and condensate system. The shock pressure wave of about 300 psi is reflected back and forth from end to end until the energy is dissipated in the piping system. This shockwave sound is similar to a hammer hitting a piece of steel. There is a noticeable bang heard in the system when the faucet is closed. When the faucet suddenly shuts, it could be compared to a 200-lb hammer coming to a stop. This could be 200 lbs of water moving at 10 ft per sec, or about seven miles per hour. When the faucet in a home opens, a solid shaft of water is moving through the pipes from the point where it enters the house to the outlet of the faucet. ![]() The example of a household faucet best describes this cause. Hydraulic shock causes a small percentage of the water hammer problems found in a steam system. Conditions causing water hammerįour conditions are identified as causes for violent water hammer reactions: Personnel should interpret the sounds as an alarm indicating that something in the system is wrong and needs to be corrected before damage is done.Įvidence gathered while conducting root cause analysis on steam component failures suggested water hammer caused 67% of the premature component failures. The continuing banging or audible sounds accompanying water hammer is the system’s way of communicating a problem. However, damage to steam and condensate components still occurs. For example, a small steam bubble collapsing creates a thermal shock not heard by the human ear. Water hammer is not always accompanied by audible noise that can be heard by the human ear. Water hammer may be occurring and yet silent to personnel. When water hammer is severe, it can result in not only damage to equipment, but also possible injury to plant personnel. Break pipe welds and even rupture piping systems and.Cause heat exchanger equipment tube failures.Collapse the elements in all designs of steam traps.You cannot underestimate the effect of water hammer. If the steam line is energized too quickly without proper warm-up time, and the condensate created during startup is not properly removed, water hammer will result. A common example of water hammer occurs during the startup or energizing of a steam system. ![]()
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