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Surge Control
TYPICAL APPLICATION
A Surge Control Valve is a device used to
CLA-VAL
protect pumps, pumping equipment and AUTOMATIC
TURBINE
pipelines from dangerous pressure surges or PUMP
PUMP CONTROL
VALVE
waves caused by rapid changes of flow CLA-VAL CLA-VAL
velocity within a pipeline. SURGE ANITCIPATOR AUTOMATIC
VALVE CHECK VALVE
When pumping systems are started and
SHUT-OFF
stopped gradually, harmful surges do not VALVE
occur. However, should a power failure take SYSTEM
place, the abrupt stopping of the pump can DISCHARGE
LINE
cause dangerous surges in the system which
could result in severe equipment damage.
Consequently, control of surges in pumping
systems is extremely important.
Cla-Val manufactures a complete line of PRESSURE SENSING LINE
valves specifically designed for a wide variety SHUT-OFF
VALVE
of surge control applications.
DISCHARGE LINE
For basic surge control problems, a Cla-Val TO ATMOSPHERE
The following illustrations show how the Cla-Val Surge Anticipator Valve works.
.
.P.H
25 M
1
.P.H.
25 M
0M .P.H.
The locomotive has stopped abruptly in Illustration 2 but momentum
continues to carry the train forward up the grade. The same condition exists
at the pump discharge upon power failure to the pump; the momentum of 2
the water column continues to carry it forward, creating a low pressure
condition at the pump discharge.
TM
.H.
0 M.P
.H.
0 M.P
Illustration 3 shows the train stopped after expending its energy in moving
up the grade. The water column in the pipeline has likewise come to rest.
.P.H.
25 M
.H. The train, in Illustration 4, has now started coasting backward down the
0 M.P
track and is about to collide with the locomotive. The same is true in the
pipeline, the water column also reverses and flows back down the pipeline
toward the pump with approximately the same velocity as before the
pump failed.
In Illustration 5 the moving train collides with the stationary locomotive with
disastrous results. Correspondingly, when the water returning back down the
pipeline is stopped by the closed check valve, a high pressure surge
develops. The result of this sudden stop can be damaging to the pipeline
and pumping equipment, similar to the wrecked train.
The magnitude of this high pressure surge is directly proportional to the rate of
change of velocity of the fluid. A 50 PSI surge can be anticipated for every
foot/second change in the velocity of the fluid. Thus it is apparent that high
pressure can develop rapidly at the check valve and, if it is too rapid,
necessitates a Surge Control Valve to eliminate the high pressure.
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