Auxiliary Lesson - Water Hammer
Auxiliary Lesson - Water Hammer
Auxiliary Lesson - Water Hammer
EB
c=
√ E D
ρ(1+ B )
Et
where: E = modulus of elasticity of steel
D = diameter of pipe
t = thickness of pipe
C. Time of Closure – the time required for the pressure wave to travel from the valve to the
reservoir and back to the valve.
2L
t=
c
where: L = length of pipe in meter
c = celerity
D. Water Hammer Pressure
1. Rapid Closure (t < 2L/c)
P= ρcV
2. Slow Closure (t > 2L/c)
2 LρV
P=
t
where: P = water hammer pressure
V = velocity of water
t = time of closure
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. The elasticity and dimensions of the pipe are such that celerity of the pressure wave is
970 m/s. Suppose the pipe has the length of 1600m. and a diameter of 1.2m and an initial
flow of 0.85 m3/s.
a. Find the water hammer pressure for instantaneous valve closure.
b. How much time should be allowed for closing a valve to avoid water hammer?
c. Find the appropriate water hammer pressure of the valve if it is closed in 4 secs.
2. A valve is suddenly closed in a 200mm diameter pipe. The increase in pressure is
700kPa. Assuming that the pipe is rigid and the bulk modulus of water is 2.07 x 10 9
N/m2.
a. Compute the celerity of the pressure wave.
b. Compute the maximum discharge.
c. If the length of the pipe is 800m. long, compute the water hammer pressure at the
valve if it is closed in 3 sec.
3. Water from a reservoir flowing through a non-rigid 600mm. diameter pipe with a velocity
of 2.5 m/s is completely stopped by a closure of a valve situated 1050m. from the
reservoir. Assume that the pressure increases at a uniform rate and that there is no
damping of the pressure wave. The pipe has a thickness of 18mm. Bulk modulus of steel
water is 2060 MPa and modulus of elasticity of steel is 200000 MPa.
a. Compute the velocity of sound in water.
b. Determine the max. rise of pressure in kPa above that corresponding to uniform flow
when the valve closure takes place in 5 sec.
c. Determine the max. rise of pressure when the valve closure takes place in 5 sec.
4. A non-rigid steel pipe 60cm in diameter is to carry a maximum static head of 350m. of
water and additional pressure due to water hammer when quick closing valve stops a flow
of 0.85 m3/s. The pipe has a thickness of 18mm and a bulk modulus of E B = 2,068.5 MPa,
E = 200 GPa for steel.
a. Compute the celerity of the pressure wave.
b. Compute the total pressure on the pipe after the closure of the valve.
c. Compute the max. stress acting on the pipe.