WATER HAMMER DEMONSTRATION

 
8.1.  Student Outcomes (SOs) Addressed by the Activity
SO b, ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
SO d, ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.

8.2.  Activity’s Intended Learning Outcomes (AILOs)

At the end of this activity the student shall be able to:
a)   Familiarize the basic principles celerity.
b)   Identify and operate the parts of water hammer.
c)   Apply the principles of celerity in demonstrating water hammer.

8.3.  Objective/s of the Activity

The aim of this activity is to demonstrate the basic principle of water hammer phenomenon. Furthermore,
it aims to discuss and analyze the different water hammer parameters (i.e. celerity, gate valve closing time
and flow discharge).

8.4.  Principle of the Activity

Water hammers in pipes are a significant problem in engineering as they can cause severe damage to piping,
fittings and system components. The water hammers are caused by the inertia effect of the flowing fluid at
abrupt changes in velocity, e.g. when rapidly closing a valve. Therefore, knowledge about the emergence
of water hammers is an important aspect of designing pipework systems.

The HM 155 trainer can be used to study water hammers and pressure waves in long pipelines. The water
hammers are generated by closing a valve at the end of the pipe section. These water hammers are then
reflected to the beginning of the pipe as an inverted wave. A pressure tank with air cushion at the start of
the pipe section simulates the open beginning of the pipe, so that there is a clear reflection of the wave. In
order to achieve reflection times that are large enough, a 60m long pipe section has been installed, which
is shaped as a coiled tube to save space.

In experiments, the emergence of water hammers is studied as a function of the valve closing times. The
trainer therefore includes two solenoid valves, one with constant closing time and one with adjustable
closing time. The resulting pressure vibrations are measured by a pressure sensor and the pressure curve is
displayed by the LabVIEW software.

A valve is used to adjust the flow rate. System pressure and flow rate are displayed. A safety valve protects
the system against excess pressure. The well-structured instructional material sets out the fundamentals and
provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.

Water hammer is a very loud banging, knocking or hammering noise in the pipes that occurs when the flow
is suddenly turned off. It is caused by a pressure or shock wave that travels faster than the speed of sound
through the pipes, brought on by a sudden stop in the velocity of the water, or a change in the direction. It's
also been described as a rumbling, shaking vibration in the pipes.

Consider the pipe line shown leading from a reservoir A to the valve at B. If the valve is suddenly closed,
the lamina of liquid next to the valve will be compressed by the rest of the rest of the column of liquid next
to the valve will be compressed by the rest of the column of the liquid flowing against it. At same time the
wall of the pipe surrounding this lamina will be stretched by the excess pressure. The next upstream lamina
will then be brought to rest, and so on. The cessation of flow and the resulting pressure increase move along
the pipe as a wave with the velocity c which is given by the following equation.

For rigid pipe:

𝑬𝑩
𝒄=
𝝆

For non-rigid pipes:

𝑬𝑩
𝒄=
𝑬 𝒅
𝝆 𝟏+ 𝑩
𝑬𝒕

The time for the pressure wane to travel from A to B and back again is:

𝟐𝑳
𝑻=
𝒄

Instantaneous Closure (𝒕𝒄  = 0)

The resulting shock due to instantaneous closure is given by:

𝑷𝒉 = 𝝆𝒄𝝊

For instantaneous closure, the pressure increase reaches up to the pipe entrance at A where it drop instantly
to the value it wound have for zero flow

Rapid Closure (𝒕𝒄 < 2𝑳/𝒄)

It is physically impossible for a valve to be closed instantaneously (𝑡𝑐 = 0). For a rapid closure (𝑡𝑐 < 2𝐿/𝑐)
the maximum pressure near the valve would still be
𝑷𝒉 = 𝝆𝒄𝝊

No matter how rapid the valve closure may be, so long as it is not the idealized instantaneous case , there
will be some distance 𝑥9 from the intake within which pressure rise cannot extend all the way to the way
to the way to the reservoir intake.

Slow Closure (𝒕𝒄 > 2𝑳/𝒄)

For slow closure the excess pressure produced decrease uniformly from the value at the valve to zero at the
intake. The maximum water-hammer pressure ph developed is given approximately by

𝟐𝑳𝒗𝒑
𝒑𝒉 =
𝒕𝒄

Where: c - celerity of the pressure wave in m/s; EB - bulk modulus of elasticity of the fluid in g Pa; E -
modulus of elasticity of the pipe wall in Pa; t - pipe thickness in mm; d - internal diameter of pipe in mm;
tc - time of closure in second; L - length of pipe in m; v - velocity of flow in m/s; Ph - pressure change due
to water hammer in Pa; 𝜌 - density of the fluid in kg/ 𝑚 ? .
8.5.  Materials/Equipment
1 unit HM 155 Water Hammer Demonstrator
HM 155 Water Hammer Demonstrator Accessories
Power and Water Supply Supplies

8.6.  Procedures
Performing of the Activity
8.7.  Activity Report
Course Code:
Course Title: Activity No.:
Group No.: Section:
Group Members: Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:

8.7.1.  Data and Results

Tabulation of Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8.7.2.  Graph of Wave Propagation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8.7.3.  Conclusion/s