Understanding The Meaning Of Water Hammer

Water hammer is the term used for explaining the effect of changes in rapid fluid flow rate. In other terms, it is also known as the ‘surge flow’. It sometimes leads to very high amounts of pressure in water pipes, higher force in the pipe supports and sometimes even reverse flow in the same pipes.
Water hammer can happen for any kind of fluid and pipe but its intensity differs according to several other factors related to the pipe and the fluid. It mostly happens for various types of liquids but sometimes it also occurs for gases. If left unchecked, it may burst the pipes and collapse the structures. It is a concept mostly faced and treated by water pump repair Brighton. In this blog, we will understand the kind of conditions that lead to the occurrence of a water hammer and how to deal with it.

How Does Water Hammer Occurs and What Kind of Consequences It Leads To?

Whenever a fluid is accelerated or decelerated by a pump the valve position or pump condition alternates. Usually, the pressure is very minute while the change of rate is very slow so the water hammer is not easy to detect. However, under some specific conditions, the pressure might be ten bars or more which means the forces on the water support systems is several tonnes and it may lead to collateral damage. It poses a great risk to safety, the environment, and assets. Therefore, owners need to be very cautious about it.

Minute water hammers can easily be identified by keeping an eye on pipe movements, pulsing flows, and banging noises. Serious water hammers can easily be diagnosed as they have similar effects but are large enough to cause very serious damage.

What Happens When A Water Hammer Strikes?

Water hammer causes shock waves in the pipes which suddenly increases the flow rate. One of the most commonly cited reasons for this phenomenon is the sudden and quick closing of the pump or valve which leads to shock waves that starts from the valve and it passes along the pipe. It also increases the pressure in the pipe. If the wave gets sharper as the pipe twists and bends. It may cause the pipe to move away from its sports or transfer the shock to its anchors which move the pipe from its place. Repeated episodes of such shock waves can easily damage the pipe and lead to more devastating effects.

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