THE EFFECTS OF WATER HAMMER

WHAT IS WATER HAMMER & HOW TO SOLVE IT

Many factors play a role in determining the severity of water hammer including
the calculation of water hammer, application maintenance, and the correct
selection of valves for the appropriate application.

WHITE PAPER
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Water hammer, also known as hydraulic shock or hydraulic surge, is a result of

uneven or steady flow of water through pipes. It is best characterized as the
clunking, thumping and banging sounds of a pipeline system once the piping
system is turned off. If not handled properly or addressed, water hammer can
be catastrophic and dangerous enough to rupture a pipe or damage adjoining
flow control equipment over time.

Many factors play a role in determining the severity of water hammer including
the calculation of water hammer potential, application maintenance, and the
correct selection of a check valve model for the appropriate application.
WHAT IS WATER HAMMER?
The term “water hammer” can be described as the result of a pressure surge or a high pressure
shock wave that circulates through a pipeline system when fluid is in motion.

Water hammer, also known as hydraulic shock, is best characterized as a pipeline system’s
clunking, thumping, and banging sounds once the piping system is turned off.

HOW DOES WATER HAMMER OCCUR?

When the flow of fluid is sharply stopped,
a pressure wave is produced that travels
through pipe systems.
When fluid flows in a certain direction. it
creates momentum. When that momentum
is suddenly obstructed. the fluid will rapidly
try to return to its normal condition, causing
the fluid to travel back through the pipe
creating a shock wave.
These pressure spikes, known as water
hammer or hydraulic shock, are common
among household plumbing and large
industrial treatment plants and can
create enormous damage in a very short
period of time.

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WHEN DOES WATER HAMMER OCCUR?
Water hammer may happen at home when the water flow of a shower, faucet, dishwasher, and/
or washing machine is shut off. In these scenarios, simply closing the valves slowly can eliminate
the shock wave. However, shutdown protocol for pumps should also be carefully considered as it
is a common cause of water hammer.

On a larger scale, such as in industrial treatment plants or municipal water systems, factors
resulting in water hammer include incorrect valve application, incorrect valve style, incorrect
location, and unexpected fluid flow from pumps shutting off too quickly or unexpectedly.

THE EFFECTS OF WATER HAMMER

The long-term impact of water hammer in a pipeline
varies. The loud banging sound associated with water
hammer is pressurized water slamming into a closed
valve, plumbing joint, or other blockages, like a fluid
pump. This repeated abuse from water pressure on
valves and joints can seriously damage the pipeline
system. Long-term effects of water hammer can also
cause leaks on joint gaskets, pressure gauges, flow
meters, and any other components associated with the
pipeline system.

Cracked pipe walls and warped piping supports also

result in costly repairs. Water hammer is also a safety
concern. The extreme pressure can instantly blow out
gaskets and explode pipes. resulting in immediate
danger to any person near the burst.

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WATER HAMMER DAMAGE PREVENTION
Addressing water hammer issues starts with proper training and preparation when
designing a pumping system.

The first step is ensuring operators know the importance of slowly opening and closing shut-off
valves. Engineers must also ensure that valves are placed in the correct locations of a pipeline
system to reduce the potential of operator error. Pressure tanks and surge chambers can
all be used to absorb hydraulic shock. Surge relief valves should also be considered.

COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS
Many factors play a role in determining the"
severity of a pressure surge within a pipeline"
system. Special consideration should be"
made to valve system applications with"
booster pump systems and water system"
plants that feature a number of manifold"
pumps, including long transmission lines,"
water well applications, or hot-water closed"
systems. Doing this will help prevent "
common issues that arise with water"
hammer.
A more accurate calculation would be
effective in systems with larger pump
applications. The chart shown on the next
page reflects how surge pressure waves are
generated based on the closing speed of a
valve based on an example using 1,000 feet
of transmission pipeline. When closing the
valve in 1/2 second, 1,450 PSI is generated
compared to closing the valve in 10 seconds
when only a 120 PSI surge is produced.

To calculate water hammer, it is important"

to determine an approximate value using the"
simple formula: for every 1 foot/second flow"
of velocity change in a steel pipe, 54 PSI of"
pressure surge above the standard system"
pressure in the pipeline is generated.
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 WATER HAMMER CALCULATIONS
As referenced on page 4, see below the comparisons of flow velocity generated at 10 feet/second in
contrast to flow velocity generated at 5 feet/second.

Solving for Pressure Increase

Flow Velocity (V): 10 feet/second Flow Velocity (V): 5 feet/second

Up-stream Pipe Length (L): 1000 feet Up-stream Pipe Length (L): 1000 feet
Valve Closing Time (t): 0.5 seconds Valve Closing Time (t): 10 seconds
Inlet Pressure (Pi): 50 PSI Inlet Pressure (Pi): 50 PSI

Solving Solving
Pressure Increase (P): 1,450 PSI Pressure Increase (P): 750 PSI

Valve Closing Speed (sec) Pressure (PSI) @ 10ft/s Valve Closing Speed (sec) Pressure (PSI) @ 5ft/s
0.5 1450.0 0.5 750.0 -48.3
1 750.0 1 400.0 -46.7
1.5 516.7 1.5 283.3 -45.2
2 400.0 2 225.0 -43.8
2.5 330.0 2.5 190.0 -42.4
3 283.3 3 166.7 -41.2
3.5 250.0 3.5 150.0 -40.0
4 225.0 4 137.5 -38.9
4.5 205.6 4.5 127.8 -37.8
5 190.0 5 120.0 -36.8
5.5 177.3 5.5 113.6 -35.9
6 166.7 6 108.3 -35.0
6.5 157.7 6.5 103.8 -34.1
7 150.0 7 100.0 -33.3
7.5 143.3 7.5 96.7 -32.6
8 137.5 8 93.8 -31.8
8.5 132.4 8.5 91.2 -31.1
9 127.8 9 88.9 -30.4
9.5 123.7 9.5 86.8 -29.8
10 120.0 10 85.0 -29.2

Pressure Increase (PSI) Pressure (PSI) @10 ft/s

at closing speeds from 1/2 to 10 seconds (1,000 foot long pipe line @ 50 PSI system pressure)
Pressure (PSI) @5 ft/s
1600

1400

1200
Pressure (PSI)

1000

800

600

400

200
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Valve Closing Time (Seconds)

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WATER HAMMER CALCULATIONS
To better understand the amount of time that should be used when closing a valve to avoid"
critical damage, use the following equation:
CRITICAL CLOSING TIME
2L Length of Pipeline (FT): 1000 feet
Tcr = Pressure Wave Velocity (A): 3400 ft/second (Steel Pipe)
a
Solution Critical Time Ter : 0.59 Seconds

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE VALVES

Any check valve that relies on backflow to completely close is at higher risk for hydraulic shock."
When discs are pushed back onto the seat with too much force, it can damage the seal or change"
the alignment of the disc in the seat, causing leaking and failure.

Water hammer can be among the common issues of check valve failure due to the higher flow"
velocity. In addition, check valves such as swing check valves and double door check valves that"
close slowly without any assistance can create hydraulic shock if not installed correctly or"not
properly selected.

VALVES TO PREVENT WATER HAMMER

SWING CHECK VALVES

A resilient seated swing check valve with a field adjustable spring-assisted
closure, like Flomatic’s Model 745SC, should always be considered where there
is a high risk of water hammer. The Model 745SC is specifically designed to
minimize the effects of water hammer on an application.

GLOBE STYLE SILENT CHECK VALVE

The globe style silent check valve Flomatic 402 series is an excellent valve
product to consider when water hammer is a concern. Globe style check valves
are engineered to reduce water hammer while jointly preventing flow reversal.
In an automatic silent check valve, as fluid flows through, the pressure from
the flow pushes the poppet off its seat, allowing it to pass through the valve.
The poppet will slide along a smooth stem that is spring-loaded so that it can
reset back onto the seat as pressure drops and before fluid stops flowing.
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VALVES TO PREVENT WATER HAMMER
It is important to keep in mind that a properly engineered valve with the correct spring tension in"
place significantly reduces the chances of water hammer in any application. Check valves must"
close fast when pumping fluid into a tank over a short distance. In these situations, it is"
important to use the equation noted below to determine the maximum surge pressure generated"
for the appropriate size and style of the valve.

MAXIMUM SURGE PRESSURE (Instant stoping of fluid flow)

Solving for maximum surge pressure of water

Pressure Wave Velocity Steel Pipe (a): 3400 Ft/second

Water Velocity Change (∆ V): 10 Ft/second
Acceleration of Gravity (g): 32.17 Ft/sec ^ 2

Solution
Maximum Surge Pressure (Psurge water): 457.5 PSI

The calculation above is in reference to the surge pressure of a steel wafer style silent check valve. Calculations vary
based on the type of material. Based on the given example above, we recommend the Flomatic series Model 888 wafer
style check valve with a cracking pressure (opening pressure) of about 2 PSI to make the valve close faster.

WAFER STYLE SILENT CHECK VALVE

Wafer style silent check valves operate similarly to globe style check valves
but are smaller in dimension. Wafer style check valves are advantageous
for fitting into tighter locations between two companion flanges where a
flanged globe valve will not fit. These fast closing valves are recommended
for booster systems in high-rise buildings and beyond.

AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC CHECK VALVE

Automatic hydraulic check valves are also recommended for ultimate
control in opening and closing speeds to reduce pressure surge and ensure
a smooth operation. When the upstream (inlet) pressure is greater than
the downstream (outlet) pressure, the valve moves to the open position
at a controlled speed by exhausting control water from the valve’s upper
diaphragm area to the downstream side through an adjustable needle
valve. When the upstream pressure becomes less than the downstream
pressure, the valve closes to prevent reverse flow at a controlled speed
by introducing control water above the diaphragm from the downstream
side through a second adjustable needle valve. It is recommended to utilize
automatic hydraulic check valves for longer pipe transmission lines.
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 IN SUMMARY
The most common cause of water hammer occurs when there is
a rapid change in water flow. As a result, these rapid fluctuations
in water flow are often associated with the opening and closing of
valves and the valves used in a piping system. As noted previously,
solutions are available to stop hydraulic shock within a piping
system, and it is never too early to prepare or prevent water hammer.

Operators and engineers should always consider the fundamentals

noted above in the design phase and commonly used styles to
reduce water hammer in the long term for operators. To reduce
the water hammer of any system now, which may eventually result
in long-term equipment damage and ruptured piping, contact
Flomatic Valves to speak with our skilled engineers and experienced
personnel.

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For nearly 90 years, Flomatic Valves has been a global leader in the water and wastewater industry,
designing and developing a wide variety of valve products. From high quality check valves to
automatic control valves, we are associated with some of the largest water and wastewater projects
in the world. Flomatic Valves is proud of our high degree of environmental consciousness while jointly
manufacturing long-lasting products that meet your ever-changing needs.

FLOMATIC CORPORATION
15 Pruyn’s Island Drive
Glens Falls, New York 12801
WWW.FLOMATIC.COM

PHONE: (800) 833-2040

INTERNATIONAL CALLERS: (518) 761-9797
FAX: (800) 314-3155