What is a Surge Tank?

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 Surge tanks are installed on large pipelines to relieve excess pressure caused by water
hammer and to provide a supply of water to reduce negative pressure if a valve is
suddenly opened.

A simple surge tank is a vertical standpipe connected to a pipeline. The valve might
represent turbine gates which may open or close rapidly with changes in load on the
generators.

With steady flow in the pipe, the water level ‘Y1’, as shown in the below figure, in the
surge tank is below the static level (y = 0).
When the valve is suddenly closed, water rises in the surge tank. The water surface in
the tank then fluctuates up and down until damped out by fluid friction.

Surge Tanks Equation.

The energy equation for unsteady flow, neglecting fluid friction and velocity head in the
surge tank and loss at pipe and surge-tank entrances, can be written as

y + f * L / D * V2 / 2g + L / g * dV / dy * dy / dt = 0…….equation (1)

and the continuity equation as

AV = As * dy / dt…….equation (2)

where y is the water level in the surge tank measured from the static level (positive
upward), L, f, and D are characteristics of the pipe between the tank and the reservoir,

…and As is the cross-sectional area of the surge tank.

Combining these two equations, integrating, and solving for V yields.

V2 = 2gAD2 / LAsf2 ( 1 – fAs / AD * y) – Ce -(fA s / AD)y…….equation (3)

which expresses the relation between velocity in the pipe and water-surface level in the
tank over the interval from valve closure to the top of the first surge.
Equation (3) may be used to estimate the maximum height of surge ymax by finding the
constant of integration C for steady-state conditions at the instant of closure (y = y1) and
then solving for ymax when V = 0.

Since the derivation neglected tank friction and velocity head and entrance losses and
assumed instantaneous valve closure with all water-hammer effects dissipated in the
tank and not the pipe, the estimate of ymax will be too large.

However, the results provide a conservative estimate for preliminary design of simple
surge tanks.

Read also: Earth Dam: Types of Earthen Dam and its Construction.

Principles and Functions of Surge Tank.

Surge tanks are usually open at the top and of sufficient height so that they will not
overflow.

In some cases, overflow is permitted if the water can be disposed of without damage.

The bottom of the surge tank must be far enough below reservoir level so that the tank
contains water at all the times to prevent air from entering the pipe.

Surge tanks reduce the pressures only in the pipe from the tank to the reservoir, and
hence the tank should be as close to the turbine as possible.

Watch the Video Below for better understanding.