ENERGY ATTENUATION APPARATUS FOR A CONDUIT CONVEYING LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE, SYSTEM INCORPORATING SAME, AND METHOD OF ATTENUATING ENERGY IN A CONDUIT

摘要

An energy attenuation apparatus in fluid communication with tubing adapted to convey a liquid under pressure, and including a liquid-conveying unit (68) in fluid communication with the tubing and having a diameter greater than the tubing diameter. The liquid-conveying unit has four chambers (64) in series, at least one of which contains a tube (61 , 62, 71 , 72), wherein an annular space (33) is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the unit and the outer peripheral surface of the tube. One end of the tube (61 , 62, 71 , 72) is connected to and in fluid communication with an inlet or outlet end of the chamber (64), and another, free end is spaced by an open gap from the outlet or inlet end of the chamber. The tube (61 , 62, 71 , 72) has at least one aperture (34) in the free end and/or on the peripheral surface thereof for providing fluid communication between the tube (61 , 62, 71, 72) and the chamber (64).