ELIMINATING WATER HAMMER: IT'S A MUST

摘要

WATER HAMMER CAN be so damaging to machinery and dangerous to human health that every effort should be taken to prevent this hazard. Also called hydraulic shock, water hammer sounds like a mechanical noise and is sometimes perceived to be a valve slamming closed. In reality, it is a phenomenon that occurs in piping systems when fast-moving fluid stops instantly, or reverse flow begins. The sudden change in momentum or direction induces the hydraulic shock wave, creating what sounds like a loud bang. The jarring water-hammer noise is a recognizable symptom of a serious problem. Though short-lived, the pressure or shock wave will reverberate all the way through the fluid-handling system until it eventually dissipates. The banging or hammering sound is a result of the pressure spike traveling through the media, bouncing back and forth against the pipe walls, valves, and other obstacles in its path - putting them at risk of damage or destruction. OSHA accident reports detailing water-hammer incidents illustrate the potentially harrowing nature of its effects. Because of its risks to equipment reliability, process performance, and safety, it is essential to prioritize the elimination of hydraulic shock and its costly consequences. Proper valve selection and sizing can help avert the damaging effects of water hammer. Spring-loaded check valves, designed primarily to prevent the reverse flow of media, are uniquely effective at minimizing if not eliminating the phenomenon.