TITLE:
Encapsulated Water Hammer: Theoretical/Experimental Study
AUTHORS:
Geanette Polanco, Muhammad Shakeel Virk, Umair N. Mughal, Sojo Victor, Da Paixao José, Vidal Antonio, Aguillón Orlando
KEYWORDS:
Water Hammer, Encapsulated Section, Experimental Facilities, Cold Regions
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
Vol.3 No.3C,
October
23,
2015
ABSTRACT: Water hammer phenomenon involves the
transformation of kinetic energy in pressure energy, this transformation occurs
as the fluid conditions change inside the pipe in quite a short time. Industry
requires to affront frequent flow interruptions in pipe systems due to the
closing of valves or stopping of pumping equipment. This phenomenon can
initiate serious damages like destruction of the pipe system involving leakage
of the working fluid to the environment. If the system operates in a fragile
environment, as in cold regions, concern about the consequences of leakage
increases due to the variation of physical properties of fluid as well as the
pipe material as a function of the temperature. Water hammer effects can be
controlled focusing efforts on reducing the pressure increment that takes place
once the phenomenon is presented. Some methods try to reduce the time of
closure or the rate of change before the closure using special valves, others
install additional elements to absorb the pressure surge and dissipate energy,
others install relief valves to release the pressure, and others try to split
the problem is smaller sections by installing check valves with dashpot or
non-return valves. Splitting the pipeline into shorter sections is often used
to help preventing the pipeline length of water falling back after a pump
stops. In this paper the numerical results of maximum and minimum pressure
values at both ends of a closed section are compared to experimental data. The
numerical results follow the experimental trends.