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EngineeringTechnicalTrainingModulesforNuclear
PlantEngineers
MechanicalSeries:Module#3

WaterHammer
1010779
EngineeringTrainingModulesforNuclearPlantEngineers
MechanicalSeries:Module#3

WaterHammer
1010779

TechnicalReport,January1999

EPRIProjectManager(s)

T.Eckert

M.Hooker
EPRI3412HillviewAvenue,PaloAlto,California94304POBox10412,PaloAlto,California94303USA
[email protected]
DISCLAIMEROFWARRANTIESANDLIMITATIONOFLIABILITIES
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 EPRILicensedMaterial

TABLEOFCONTENTS

1.0 SCOPEANDPURPOSE........................................ 3
..

2.0 SUGGESTEDSKILLSANDKNOWLEDGE.......................... 5

3.0 OBJECTIVES............................................. 7
....

4.0 NOMENCLATURE.......................................... 9
...

5.0 PRINCIPLESANDPROPERTIES.................................. 11
.

5.1 Applicable Fluid Properties . . . ................................. 11

5.2TypesofWaterHammerEvents................................. 14

5.3DetectionofEvidenceandDiagnosisofWaterHammer.............. 31

5.4WaterhammerPrevention,EliminationandMitigation................ 36

6.0 NUCLEARCONSIDERATIONS................................... 41

7.0 UTILITYEXAMPLEEXERCISESANDSOLUTIONS................... 43

8.0 SOURCEDOCUMENTATION.................................... 47
.

9.0 INDUSTRYOPERATINGEXPERIENCE............................. 49

10.0 PROFICIENCYMEASURES..................................... 53
.

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1.0 SCOPEANDPURPOSE

Thismoduleaddressesthephenomenonofwaterhammerpressuretransientevents.Thismodule
alsoprovidesanunderstandingofthebasicphysicalprinciples,theapplicableequations,therisk
potentialfromtheseevents,methodsofevaluatingwaterhammers,andthepossiblewaysto
prevent,eliminateand/ormitigatetheconsequencesofthesetypeevents.Thesubjectand
analysisofwaterhammerisverycomplexandnotlimitedtothediscussionincludedinthis
module.

Waterhammeristhetermusedfortheshockresultingfromthesuddenchangeinvelocity,
startingorstoppingofthemotionofacolumnoffluid.Thetermisalsoappliedtoeventsthat
resultinsimilarpressuretransients,suchasawaterslugbeingforcedthroughasystemby
enteringsteam,rapidexpansionofacoolfluidwhensuddenlyexposedtoheatorfluidofa
highertemperature,orthesuddenandrapidcollapseofasteambubbleorpocketofhotfluid
whensuddenlyexposedtocoolerfluidorrapidcoolingaction.Thelattertypeeventshouldnot
beconfusedwithcavitation.

Theconsequencesofallthesetypesofeventsvaryintermsofpossibledamageriskto
componentsandequipment,andintermsoftheriskstopersonnel.

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2.0 SUGGESTEDSKILLSANDKNOWLEDGE

Itissuggestedthatthestudenthaveafundamentalunderstandingoffluidspropertiesandthe
governingequations,andofthedesignandoperationofpipingsystems,valvesandactuators,
pumpsandheatexchangers.

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3.0 OBJECTIVES

Toprovidethestudentwithaworkingknowledgeofwaterhammerphenomena.Atthe
conclusionofthismodule,thestudentwill:

Describe:
Causes
Effects
Susceptibility
Diagnosis

ofwaterhammersituationsandeventsinpowerplantsystemsandapplythatunderstandingto
prevent,eliminate,ormitigatetheoccurrenceandeffectsofwaterhammereventsinnuclear
specificapplications.

Use:
Fluidpropertiesanddensityequation.
Celerityequation.
NewtonsSecondLaw.
Joukowskyequation.
Appropriatetechniquestodetecttheeffectsorevidenceofwaterhammers.

Tocalculate:
Thespeedofsoundinafluid.
Pressurechangesresultingfromawaterhammerevent.
Forceresultingfromawaterhammerevent.

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4.0 NOMENCLATURE

A = crosssectionalarea( ft )
2

a = accelerationoffluidcolumn(ft/sec2)
c = celerityofawave,orspeedofsoundinafluid(ft/sec)
c1 = constantdependingonthepipesupportconditions,varyingfrom0.85to1.0,usually0.91
D = insidediameterofapipe(ft)
= deltaorchange
E = modulusofelasticityofpipe(lb/ft2)
EB = bulkmodulusoffluid(lb/ft2)
F = force(lbf)
g = accelerationduetogravity( ft / sec )
2

gc = dimensionalconversionfactor( ft / sec )
2

H = head(feet H 2O )
L = lengthofpipe(ft)
lbf = lbsforce
lbm = lbsmass
m = mass(lbmorslugs)
P = pressure(lbf/in 2 orpsi)
Ph = waterhammerpressurerise(lbf/in 2 orpsi)
T = time(sec)
Tc = valveclosuretime(sec)
t = pipewallthickness(in)
v = averagevelocity(ft/min.)
V = volume( ft )
3

W = weight(lbf)
lbm = density(lbm/ft3)

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slugs= lbm/gc(lbfsec/ft4orslugs/ft3)

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5.0 PRINCIPLESANDPROPERTIES

5.1 ApplicableFluidProperties

The following assumptions are made regarding the transmission of a pressure wave due to
water hammer:

1. Thefluidinthepipeiselastic,ofhomogeneousdensity,andintheliquidstate.
2. Thepipewallmaterialishomogeneous,isotropicandelastic.
3. Thevelocitiesandpressuresinthepipeareuniformlydistributedoveratransverse
crosssection.
4. Flowvelocityismuchlessthanthespeedofsound.
5. Thepipeisfullofwater(thereisnoopensurfacewavevelocitytoconsider)whenthe
pressurewaveistravelingthroughit.
6. Thevelocityheadisnegligiblerelativetopressurechanges.
7. Frictioninthepipemaybeignored.
8. Waterlevelsattheendsofthepipeorinletandoutletreservoirsdonotchangefaster
thanthewavepropagationtimefromoneendtotheother.

Thefollowingpropertiesarecommonlyusedtocalculatetheparametersnecessaryto
understandwaterhammer:

5.1.1 Density

Densityisthemassperunitvolume.
Eq.1
m lbm slugs
= 3 or
V ft ft 3

5.1.2 TravelTimeofPressureorSoundWave

Thetimethatawaveofaparticularpressurewilltaketomakearoundtripinaclosed
sectionofpipemaybecalculatedfromthecelerityequation:

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Forrigidpipes:

Eq.2
EB ft
c=
sec

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Fornonrigidpipes:
Eq.3
EB ft
c=
E D sec
1 + B c1
E t

The travel time is then:

Eq.4
2L
T= sec
c

5.1.3 NewtonsSecondLaw

NewtonsSecondLawmaybeappliedtofindthetheoreticalpressurechangesandforces
duetowaterhammers.
Eq.5
v
F = ma = m lbf
T
Then:

Eq.6
FT = mv

And:
Eq.7
m = AcT

And:
Eq.8
F = PA
Then:
Eq.9
P = [ PA ( P + P ) A ]

And:
Eq.10
[ PA ( P + P ) A ] T = AcTv

Or:

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Eq.11
P = cv

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Theresultingpressureriseorchangeinpressureheadfromrapidclosureofavalvemay
becalculatedfromthefollowingequation(Joukowsky):

Pressureform:
Eq.12
cv lbf
P = 2 psi
gc in

Headform:
Eq.13
cv
H = ft
g

Themaximumpossiblepressureis:
Eq.14
cv lbf
Ph = 2 or psi
gc in

The resulting pressure rise from slow closure of a valve may be calculated from the following:
Eq.15
2 Lv lbf
Ph 2 or psi
g c Tc in

Theresultingforcefromunbalancedpressureorfromawaterslugcollidingwithaclosed
valveorothertransverseobstructionmayalsobecalculated:

Forcefromunbalancedpressure:
Eq.16
F = PA lbf

Forcefromawaterslug:
Eq.17
F = Av lbf
2

Example1

Calculate the celerity of a pressure wave in water at 200F in a rigid pipe. The bulk modulus
of the water is 45x106 lbf/ft2 and the density is 1.868 slugs/ft3 or (lbf-sec2/ft4)

EB 45 10 6 ft
c= = = 4908
1.868 sec
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Solution:

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Forthewaveabove,calculatetheroundtriptraveltimethrough20ftofpipe.
2 L ( 2)( 20)
Solution: T= = = 0.00815 sec.
c 4908

Example2

Forthesamewave,above,theinsidediameterofthepipeis6.065in.,withawall
thicknessof0.280in.(6in.,schedule40).Assumethepipeisrigid.Thelineis
subjectedtoawaterhammerduetorapid,nearlyinstantaneous,checkvalveclosure.
Calculatethetheoreticalmaximumpressureriseiftheflowvelocitywentfrom4.0
ft/secto0.

mass cv slugs c v =(1.868)(4908)(4.0)/144

Solution: Ph= g c =

Ph=255psi

Example3
Forthesamepipe,calculatethemaximumforceresultingfromthepressurewave
strikingtheclosedend.(A=28.89in2)

Solution: F = PA = ( 255
lbf
)( 28.89 in 2 )
in 2
F = 7637 lbf

5.2 TypesofWaterHammerEvents

Waterhammeroccurrencesmaybenormalandanticipatedaspartofthedesignand
operationoftheplant.Thesemayoccurduetopumpstartsorstops,controlorisolation
valveoperation,checkvalveclosure,safetyorreliefvalveoperations,turbinetripsandthe
fillingofnormallyemptysystems.Usually,designsandproceduresminimizetheeffectsof
theseeventsandnodamageoccursfromthem.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Thereareotherabnormalandunanticipatedtypesofwaterhammereventswhicharesevere,
andwhichmaycausedamageorprofoundlyaffectplantoperation.Theseeventscanbevery
complexanddifficulttoanalyze,andoftenoccurinthepresenceoftwophaseflow.The
pressuretransientamplitudesintwophaseflowarenotnecessarilyeasytoanalyzein
complexsystemswheresecondaryorreflectedwavesmayactuallyexceedthefirsttransient
inamplitude,dependingontheconfigurationofthepipe.Theresultingforcesare
equivalentlycomplex.

Thepressurewaveisaffectedbytheinterferencesandboundariesencountered.Asaresult,
wavetransmissionfactorsandreflectionfactorsmaybecalculatedspecificallyforthetypeof
obstacleencountered.Thistypeofcalculationshouldbedoneaspartoftheanalysisof
pipingsystemdesignifwaterhammersareexpectedanddetailedanalysisisdesired,butare
outsidethescopeofthismodule.

Thescenariosthatleadtoseverewaterhammereventsmustbepreventedifatallpossibledue
tothepotentialconsequenceslistedbelow.Theseverityoftheeffectsmaybeworsenedifthe
acousticresonancesofthepiping,orthestructuralresonancesoftheconfigurationareexcited
bytheevent(s).

Theconsequencesofawaterhammereventmaybe:

1. Pressureboundaryfailures,includingpipebreaks,whichareoftenconsideredthe
mostsevereconsequences,butaregenerallyrare.
2. Damagetocomponents,whichmaybecostlyandtimeconsumingtorepair,and
sometimesgoundiscovered.
3. Flangeorinstrumentationleakage.
4. Supportdamagetorestraintsandsnubbers.
5. Observationofwaterhammereventwithoutdamage.

Therearesevenwellknownmechanismsoroperatingscenarioswhichcanleadtosevere
waterhammer.Thefirstfourlistedareclassifiedascondensationevents.Number3&7may
becontrolledbytheheadgeneratedbyapumpratherthanbybubblecollapse.

1. Subcooledwaterwithcondensingsteaminaverticalpipe(watercannon).
2. Steamandwatercounterflowinahorizontalpipe(steam/watercounterflow).
3. Pressurizedwaterenteringaverticalsteamfilledpipe(steampocketcollapse).

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

4. Hotwaterenteringalowpressureline(lowpressuredischarge).
5. Steampropelledwaterslug(waterslug).
6. Rapidvalveactuation(valveslam).
7. Fillingofavoidedline(columnrejoining).

Anadditionaltypeofoccurrence,generallynotassevere,butstillwiththepossibilityof
damage,isatransientinanonflowingsystemorinstagnantlegsofthesamesystem.

Therearesometimeseventssimilartowaterhammersassociatedwithseverecavitation,but
thoseeventsarenotconsideredaspartofthismodule.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

5.2.1 WaterCannon

Theflowofsteamintoapoolofsubcooledwaterisstoppedorreducedsignificantly,
trappingapocketofsteamabovetheliquidsurface.Rapidcondensationofthesteam
drawswaterrapidlyintotheexhaustline.Thewaterimpactsonthefullyorpartially
closedvalve,causingapressuretransientinthewaterfilledpipe.Thismechanismis
somewhatuniquetoBWRs.SeeFigure1.Thistypeofhammertypicallyresultsin
moderatedamagetocomponentssuchasrupturedisksandcheckvalves.

PlantsystemsthataresusceptibletothistypeofwaterhammerareBWR:

HighPressureCoolantInjection(HPCI)system
or
ReactorCoreIsolationCooling(RCIC)system

20
 EPRILicensedMaterial

STEAM

Valve
Closes

Trapped
Steam
Pocket

(a) (b)

WaterImpacts
BANG! Valve

Wave
Front

(c) (d)

SteamCondensesand
DrawsWaterintoPipe

Figure1:Subcooledwaterwithcondensingsteaminaverticalpipe(watercannon)

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

5.2.2 Steam/WaterCounterflow

Thisusuallyoccurswhenasmallflowofsubcooledwaterisbeinginjectedintoalarge
horizontalpipeleadingtoareservoirofhighpressuresteam.Rapidcondensationacross
thestratifiedtwophaseinterfaceresultsinrapidsteamflowcountertothedirectionof
waterflow.Contactwiththesubcooledliquidcausesthesteamtocondense.Thehigh
velocitysteamflowcreateswavesonthesurfaceoftheliquid.Ifthesewavesmake
contactwiththetopofthepipealowpressurepocketiscreatedandawaterslugis
formed.Asthesteaminthepocketcondenses,thedifferentialpressureacrosstheslug
increaseswhichcausestheslugtoaccelerate.Asthesteampocketdisappears,theslugis
stoppedquickly,andlargeamplitudepressurewavesaregeneratedtopropagatethrough
thesystem.SeeFigure2.

Plantsystemsthataresusceptibletothistypeofwaterhammerare:

BWR PWR
HPCI FeedWater
MainSteam SteamGenerator
Condensate ResidualHeatRemoval
AuxFeedWater

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Backflowofsteamtoreplacesteam
beingcondensed

Slowrefillingofhorizontalpipe

a.Pipepartiallyfullofcoldwater

Backflowofsteamtoreplace Criticalflowconditions
steambeingcondensed begintoform

b.Bridgingandresultantslugmovement
maycausemoderatewaterhammer

Steamextendsthroughoutthe
horizontalpipesegment

c.Elbowhasbridgedandvertical
legisfilling

Steampocket BANG!
iscollapsing

d.Slugimpactselbowassteampocket
collapsescausinga,severewaterhammer

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Figure2:SteamandWatercounterflowinahorizontalpipe(Steam/WaterCounterflow)

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5.2.3 SteamPocketCollapse

Asteamfilledpipemayexistatanyelevationandisusuallycausedbytheleakingof
steamorhotwater,whichflashesfromahigherpressureregion.Thepipeorientation,the
fillrateandinertiaoftheliquid,andthepressurefromapumporotherfillingdevice
controlthismechanism.Bottomfillingresultsinsteambubblecollapseandaresultant
pressuretransient.Topfillingwillnotusuallyresultinahammer,solongasthefillrate
doesnotexceedthebubbleriserate.Iftopfillistoorapid,aslugmayform,collapsing
thesteambubbleandcausingapressuretransient.SeeFigure3.

Asteampocketcollapseeventwilloccur(versesasteam/watercounterflowevent)when
thepipingisgreaterthan3oabovehorizontal.Thisisbecausethereisinsufficientcontact
areabetweenthesteamflowandthesurfaceofthewatertogeneratewaveswhichgive
risetowaterslugs.

Theseverityofasteampocketcollapseeventisdependenttherateoffill(fromapumpor
anydrivinghead)aswellasthecondensationrateofthesteampocket.

Plantsystemsthataresusceptibletothistypeofwaterhammerare:

BWR PWR
CoreSpray SafetyInjection
RCIC CoolantCharging
ReactorWaterCleanUp SteamGeneratorBlowDown
ResidualHeatRemoval ResidualHeatRemoval
FeedWater FeedWater
MoistureSeparatorReHeater FeedWaterHeaters
HPCI AuxFeedWater

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Steam
(a) (b)

Steam BANG!
Water will Void
Impact valve PSat
Wave
Front
v
Water

P >PSat
Bottom Bottom
filling Filling

(c) Slow Top Fast Top

(d)
Filling Filling

Water will not Water hammer

Impact valve with occurs when slug
this annular filling flow fills pipe and
pattern bubbles rapidly
collapse

Closed Flow Paths

Figure3:Pressurizedwaterenteringaverticalsteamfilledpipe(Steampocketcollapse)

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5.2.4 LowPressureDischarge

Thisiscausedbyhotwaterenteringalowerpressureline.Subcooledwaterfromalower
temperature,oftenstagnant,legisadmittedtoahotterleg.Aswaterquicklypasses
throughthevalve,downstreamflashingmayleadtoformationandpropulsionofawater
slug.Whenthewaterflashestosteamonthedownstreamsideofthevalve,thepressure
aroundthesteampocketthatiscreatedincreasesdramatically.Theflowingwater
upstreamofthevalveissuddenlyreducedorstopped.Thisproducesawaterhammer
eventsimilartotheValveSlamtype.Asthesteampocketsaresweptawayandnewones
areformed,thewaterhammerupstreamofthevalvewillcontinue.Additionalwater
hammereventsarecreatedasthesteampocketsdownstreamofthevalvecondenseand
collapse.SeeFigure4.

Plantsystemsthataresusceptibletothistypeofwaterhammerare:

BWR PWR
MoistureSeparatorReHeater MoistureSeparatorReHeater
Condensate Condensate
FeedWater FeedWater
ResidualHeatRemoval ResidualHeatRemoval
ReactorCoolantSystem
SteamGeneratorBlowDownPiping

27
 EPRILicensedMaterial

P Sat

T Sat
P<P Sat
T Subcooled

(a)Initialconditionswhenvalveopens

P Sat

IfFlashingInitiates
T Sat
BANG! T Subcooled

WaveFront
(b)Possiblewaterhammerwhenhotwaterreachesfirst
valveoranysignificantrestrictionintheflowpathif
flashingoccurs

P Sat

FlashesatP< P Sat
T Sat T Subcooled

BANG!

(c)Hotwatermayflashdownstreamofthefirst
valvewhichwillpropelcoolwatercausingslugflow
waterhammeruponimpactwithdownstreamvalve

Figure4:Hotwaterenteringalowerpressureline(LowPressureDischarge)

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5.2.5 WaterSlug

Steampropelledwaterslugsmayoccurinpipingwhichcollectscondensateupstreamofa
closedvalveorinlowpointofnormallyemptysteamlinesdownstreamofclosedvalve.
Thistypewaterhammeroftenoccursinpoorlydesignedorsaggingpiping.Theopening
ofavalveallowssteamflowtoacceleratethewaterslug,sweepingitupevenifthewater
doesnotfillthepipeinitially.Relativelysmallsteampressuremayresultinsignificant
slugvelocity,andlargeforcescanresultwhentheslugimpactsatanelboworhitsa
restrictioninthepipe.SeeFigure5.

Plantsystemssusceptibletothistypeofwaterhammereventare:

BWR PWR
MainSteam MainSteam
AuxSteam AuxSteam
HPCI FeedWater
RCIC S/GBlowDown
ReactorCoolant(PZR)

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Steam Steam
Flow Flow
Slug of
Condensate
Forms

(a) Slug forms in closed drain line

Steam Steam
Flow Flow

Valve Opens
P > PSat of Slug
VS

(b) Rapidly moving slug loads pipe due to impact on

elbows or restrictions

Steam
Flow

Valve
Opens

(c)Water pipe forms slug as steam sweeps past, causing slug loads noted
in b.

Figure5:Steampropelledwaterslug(WaterSlug)

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5.2.6 ValveSlam

Rapidclosureofacheckorothertypevalveorabnormalvalveopeningorclosingevents,
suchasthosecausedbyactuatorfailure,resultinpressuretransients.Inadditiontothe
severetransientsfromtheclosureevent,columnseparationandrejoiningmayoccuron
thelowpressuresideoftherapidlyclosingvalve.Thistypeofwaterhammereventisnot
limitedtoanyparticularplantdesignorsystem.

5.2.6.1 InstantaneousClosure

Itisnotphysicallypossibletocloseavalveinstantaneously,butthisrepresentsthe
idealized(andworst)case.Assumethatavalveisclosedinstantaneously.Thefluid
nexttoitwillbecompressedbytherestofthefluidupstreamthathasnotstopped,
stillflowingbehindit.Atthesametimethepipewallswillbeexpandedbytheexcess
pressureproduced.Thefluidisgraduallybroughttorestastheenergyisdissipated
byfrictionanddamping.Thefluiddoesnotbehaveasanincompressiblebody,but
thephenomenonisaffectedbytheelasticityofthefluidandofthepipe.

Asthefluidcolumngraduallycomestoastop,apressurewavetravelsupstreaminthe
directionoppositethefluidflow.Whenthepressurewavereacheseitheranobstacle
oranexpansionorcontractionoftheflowcrosssection,thereisareflectionofthe
pressurewave,andanunloadingorrarefactionofthepressuresincethefluidcolumn
isbeginningtoreverseitsvelocity,andthepressureisdifferent.Anotherreversal
takesplacewhenthewaveagainreachestheclosedvalve.Theresultisthatthereisa
seriesofpressurewavesalternatingbetweenhighandlowpressuretravelingbackand
forththroughthepipe.Thissituationcontinuesuntilthepressurereachesthenoflow
pressure.

Thetimethatawaveofaparticularpressurewilltaketomaketheroundtripmaybe
calculatedfromthecelerityequation.

Thechangeinpressure,neglectingfriction,maybecalculatedbyapplyingthe
pressureequationbasedonNewtonsSecondLaw.Theequationshowsthatthe
changeinpressureresultsfromtheinstantaneouschangeinvelocity.

Thepressureincreaseisnotdependentonthelengthordiameterofthepipe,buton
thecelerityofthepressurewaveinthefluidandthechangeinvelocityofthefluid.

31
 EPRILicensedMaterial

Iffrictionanddampingofthepipingareconsidered,theresultisaseriesofpressure
wavesandforcesofdiminishingamplitudeactingonthesystem.Thisassumesthat
thereisnopressuredropbelowthevaporpressureofthefluid,sothatno
discontinuityofthefluidcolumntakesplace.

Thepressurewavesreboundofftheclosedendsofthepipe.Theresultingforcemay
becalculatedbyapplyingNewtonsSecondLaw.

5.2.6.2 RapidClosure

Thisphenomenonassumesthetimerequiredforthewavetomaketheroundtripis
greaterthanthevalveclosuretime,eitherbecausetheclosuretimeisveryshort,or
thepipeisverylong.Thedifferencebetweentheidealizedcaseofinstantaneous
closureandtherealcaseofrapidclosure,isthatthemaximumpressuremaybe
reached,butcannotexistintheentireclosedsystem,anditenduresforashortertime.
Thevalveclosuretimeandoperationcharacteristicsalwaysaffectthechangeof
velocityofthefluidcolumnand,therefore,thepressuresdeveloped.

5.2.6.3 SlowClosure

Thisassumesthatthevalveclosuretimeisgreaterthanthetimeforthewavetomake
theroundtrip.Themaximumpressurerisewillbeless,becausetheunloadingwave
willreachthevalvebeforeithastimetoclose,andpreventanyfurtherincreasein
pressure.Theuseofslowclosingvalvesisthereforeonewayofreducingthe
amplitudeofthedevelopedpressure,andisonemethodforprotectingpipingsystems.
Anotherprotectionmethodistheuseofpressurereliefvalves.Thepressureriseis
describedbytheslowclosurepressureriseequation.

32
 EPRILicensedMaterial

A
(a)Initiallyboth
pumpsrunning,
pumpBtrips,
checkvalveB
temporarilysticks
B openthenrapidly
closes.

BANG!

WaveFront

(b)Abnormallyfastvalveclosing
duetoactuatorfailure

PossibleColumn
Separation
BANG!

WaveFront

Figure6:RapidValveActuation(ValveSlam)

33
 EPRILicensedMaterial

5.2.7 ColumnRejoining

Ifcheckvalveorotherleakageoccursinasystemwithanelevationorheadchange(of
over34feet),avacuummaybeformedafterapumpshutdown.Thiswilloccurifakeep
fullsystemisnotoperatingorisinadequatetopreventit.Thevoidatthehighpoint
collapsesafterpumprestart,causingasubstantialpressuretransientinthewaterfilled
piping.

Plantsystemsthataresusceptibletothistypeofwaterhammerare:

BWR PWR
HPCI SafetyInjection
RCIC FeedWater
CoreSpray ServiceWater
ServiceWater ResidualHeatRemoval
ResidualHeatRemoval CirculatingWater
CirculatingWater

34
 EPRILicensedMaterial

Vacuum

(a) (b)

Pump Trips;
System operating; water falls
piping filled with forming
no voids Normal Flow vacuum
Path

BANG!

(c) Wave Front

Pump restarts;
water column
rejoins

Figure7:Fillingofavoidedline(ColumnRejoining)

35
 EPRILicensedMaterial

5.2.8 TransientsinNonFlowingSystems

Valveopeningorasuddenreleasefromapipecanalsogenerateawaterhammer.Inthis
case,thefluidflowisawayfromthestandingcolumnorreservoirtowardtheopening,
i.e.,towardthelowpressureend.Thisrapidchangecanresultinapressurewaveinthe
standingwaterwhichhasnotyetstartedtomove.Thisisavariationofthecolumn
separationtypeevent.

Thereisalsothepossibilityofwaterhammerinstagnantordeadlegswherenoflow
exists.Thisisduetoawaterhammerpressurewavefromthemainpipedividingand
travelingdownthestandingfluidcolumn,orfromexcitationofanacousticresonancein
thestagnantleg.Thewavecansimplyreboundinthedeadleg,andeventuallydieout,or
itcouldexciteanacousticorstructuralresonanceofthepipecausinganintensetransient
response.

5.3 DetectionofEvidenceandDiagnosisofWaterHammer

5.3.1 DetectionofWaterHammer

Waterhammermaybedetectedbyobservationofnoiseandpipemovement,observation
offluctuationofpressureindicatingdevices,collectionofdatafromdynamicpressure
transmittersortransducers,datafromvibrationordisplacementinstrumentation,and
observationofindicationsofpipemovementordamageoncomponentsandstructures.
Althoughwaterhammerissometimesheardandpipemovementobserved,thereis
seldomanopportunitytocollectanyquantitativedatawithanytypeofinstrumentation.
Usually,theevaluationofwaterhammermustbedoneaftertheeventhasoccurred,using
evidenceofmotionordamage.Thedamagesymptomsofthreegeneralclassesofwater
hammer(condensationinduced,valveactuationinducedandcolumnrejoininginduced)
aresimilarandrelatetothecharacteristicsofpressurewaves.Thedeformationcausedby
watersluginducedwaterhammerisuniqueinnature.Theoverallprocessofdiagnostic
analysisinvolves:

Studyofmarksanddeformation
Determinationofthesourceofthepressurewaveorwaterslug
Determinationoftherootcauses

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

5.3.2 StudyofMarksandDeformation

Thefirststepinevaluationistocollectevidence.Awalkdownisgenerallyperformed,
andshouldbepreparedforbyreviewofthesystemconfigurationandreviewofthe
operatingconditionsatthetimeoftheevent(plantmode,valvelineups,componentsin
operationandchangestostate,fluidstatesandparameters).Interviewsshouldbe
conductedwithanyobserversoftheeventaswellaswithoperatorsabouttheplant
conditions.

Afieldinspectionshouldbeconducted,lookingformarksonordamagetoinsulation,
pipe,andsupports(hangers,struts,clamps,snubbers,structuralrestraints,andsupport
attachmentstostructures).Piperupturesare,fortunately,veryrare,butpipewall
deformationmaybepresent.Componentsandattachedlinesshouldbeexamined.
Damagetosomecomponentsmaynotbeexternallyvisible,andmayrequiredisassembly.
Adjacentstructuresshouldbeobservedforevidenceofcontactordamagefromthe
movingpipe.Anyavailableinstrumentdatashouldalsobecollected.

Publiclyreportedwatereventsaretabulatedbysystemandplanttypeinsection5.3.4.It
isinterestingtonotethatalmost80%oftheseeventswereidentifiedbydirectobservation
byplantpersonnel,damagedequipment,ordamagedrestraints.Lessthan6%had
leakageobserved,andtheremaining15%wereidentifiedbyrecordedinstrumentdata.

5.3.3 DeterminationoftheSourceofthePressureWaveorWaterSlug

Determinationofthesourceofthewaterhammerisveryimportant.Oncethesource
locationisidentified,examinationoflocalcomponentsandreviewoftheoperating
conditionswillhelpdeterminethewaterhammergenerationmechanism.Itisimportant
todistinguishbetweenpressurewaveandwaterslugwaterhammer.Pipeswillmoveand
distortinadirectionoppositetothepressurewavepropagation.Thelargerthepipe,the
moreitissusceptibletoapermanentdeformation.

Pressurewavesformduetochangesinpressureorflowvelocity.Theyareshockwaves
whichpropagatethroughthefluidinthepipeatthespeedofsoundinthefluid,andthe
resultiskineticenergyintheformofcompressionand/orrarefactionwaves.

Awaterslugiscondensateorresidualwaterthatissweptupandacceleratedbymoving
steamorhotwater.Theslugfillsthetransversecrosssectionofthepipe,andasitmoves,
isdeflectedbyinterferencesorstoppedbyaclosedvalve.Impactloadsaregenerateddue
tothechangesinmomentumastheslugtravelsthroughthepipeandpassesorisstopped

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

bytheseinterferences.Highenoughloadscausedamagetopipe,componentsand
structures.Thepipemovementanddistortionisalwaysinthesamedirectionasthewater
slugistraveling.Sincetheforcegeneratedbyawaterslugisusuallysmallerthan
producedbyapressurewave,thescratchmarkscausedbylinedistortionduetowater
slugimpactarelessevidentthanthosegeneratedbypressurewaves.

Theforcesfromtheseeventshaveeffectsonlinemotion,componentdeformationand
damagepatterns.Observationofsystemwidedistortionanddamageisgenerallyan
indicationofpressurewavetypewaterhammermechanisms.Highlylocalizedplastic
deformationisdirectevidenceofwatersluginducedwaterhammer.Steamsystemevents
areoftenduetowaterslugs.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

The steps needed to determine the source of the water hammer are:

1. Examinemarksandimpactdeformationtoidentifythedirection,sequenceand
extentofpipemovement.
2. Studylocaldeformationsofthepipethatdonothaveassociatedexternalimpactto
determineifawaterslugoccurred.
3. Studythepatternoflinedistortionandanysystemdamagetodetermineifa
pressurewaveeventoccurred.
4. Decideiftheeventwasduetoapressurewaveorawaterslug.
5. Bycombiningtheevidenceofdirectionofpipemotionandthetypeofwater
hammer,identifythesourceororiginatingpointofthewaterhammer.
6. Investigatethepossiblewaterhammergenerationmechanismandscenariosatthe
sourceoftheevent.

5.3.4 DeterminationoftheRootCauses

Afterthepointoforiginationofawaveorslugisidentified,thepossiblefailurescenarios
attheorigincanbeidentified.Basedonthefailurescenariosandthepossiblewater
hammermechanisminvolved,therootcausescanbeidentified.

TherootcausesforthesevendifferentmechanismsaresetforthinVolume5,Part3of
EPRINP6766.Theyincludeinadequatedesign,failed,faultyorincorrectlymaintained
valvesorequipment,inadequateorincorrectoperatingprocedures,improperuseof
procedures,andhumanerror.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Scratch
mark a

1 2 3

Scratch
mark b

a + 3 Wave propagated from right to left; line plastically deformed

a + 2 Wave propagated from right to left; line elastically deformed
b + 1 Wave propagated from left to right; line plastically deformed
b + 2 Wave propagated from left to right; line elastically deformed

Figure8:MethodsforDeterminingWavePropagationDirection

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Tables 1 and 2 indicate the publicly reported water hammer events that occurred in
nuclear power plants prior to 1996. The events are identified by plant type and system,
and have previously been analyzed to determine the areas of each system which are prone
to water hammer, the specific water hammer mechanism, and root cause, as discussed in
Source Documentation 9. Additional systems, such as those designated non-safety,
would not necessarily have had all water hammer events reported publicly. Therefore,
other systems with similar attributes should be considered vulnerable.

PlantSystems

REHEATMOIST.SEPERATOR

SERVICEWATERCOOLING
RX.COREISOL.COOLING

RESID.HEATREMOVAL
LOWPRESSINJECTION

RX.WATERCLEANUP
REACTORCOOLANT
COND.CIRC.WATER

FIREPROTECTION

ISOL.CONDENSER
HIGHPRESSINJ.
CONDENSATE

MAINSTEAM
FEEDWATER
AUX.STEAM

TOTAL
Mechanism
Identified
1 - Water
0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 14
Cannon
2 - Steam/Water
Counterflow
0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
3 - Steam Pocket
Collapse
0 0 * 0 * * 0 1 0 * 1 0 17 2 0 21
4 - Low Pressure
Discharge
0 0 * 0 * 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 * 0 0 2
5 - Water Slug
1 0 1 0 0 15 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 24
6 - Valve Slam
* 1 * * 5 1 1 * 2 * * 1 * * * 11
7 - Column
Rejoining
0 * * 1 * 6 0 8 0 0 2 0 12 * 6 35
Severe Water
1 1 2 1 5 30 4 9 7 2 10 1 29 2 6 110
Hammer Events
8 - Other or
Unknown
0 0 2 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 13
C
Cavitation/Valv 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 7 15
e Instability
N - Non-Water
Hammer Event
0 1 0 0 4 2 1 1 1 6 0 0 0 1 5 22
BWR Total
Events 1 2 4 1 13 36 5 11 10 8 10 1 36 3 19 160
Reported

*AdditionalSystemstobeConsidered

Table1:PubliclyReportedWaterHammerinBWRPlantSystem

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EPRILicensedMaterial

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

PlantSystem

CONTROLCHEMICAL&VOLUME
COND.CIRC.WATER

SERVICECOOLINGWATER
FIREPROTECTION

SAFETYINJECTION
AUX.FEEDWATER

COMPONENETCOOLINGWATER

CONT.SPRAY

FEEDWATERHTR.DRAINS

RESIDUALHEATREMOVAL

STMGENERATORBLOWDOWN

TOTAL
MAINSTEAM

STEAMGENERATOR
CONDENSATESYSTEM

FEEDWATERSYSTEM

RX.COOLANTSYSTEM
Mechanism
Identified
1 Water
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cannon
2 Steam/Water
Counterflow
1 0 0 0 0 3 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 30 0 0 42
2 Steam Pocket
Collapse
* 2 0 * 0 0 0 * * 0 0 * 0 0 * 3 5
4 - Low Pressure
Discharge
0 0 0 * 0 * 0 4 * 0 * * 0 0 6 0 10

5 Water Slug 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 0 0 * 0 14

6 Valve Slam * * * * * * * 1 * 3 * 1 1 0 * * 6
7 Column
Rejoining
0 * * * 1 0 * 2 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 9
Severe Water
8 2 0 0 1 3 0 14 0 6 3 6 3 30 6 4 86
Hammer Events
8 Other or
Unknown
2 0 0 3 0 2 0 4 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 18
C
Cavitation/Valve 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
Instability
N - Non-Water
Hammer 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 9
Event
PWR Total
Events 11 2 1 4 2 7 1 27 1 8 6 7 3 30 6 6 123
Reported

*AdditionalSystemstobeConsidered

Table2:PubliclyReportedWaterHammerEventsinPWRPlantSystem

5.4 WaterHammerPrevention,EliminationandMitigation

Preventionoreliminationofwaterhammersisthepreferredsolutions.Mitigationshouldbe
pursuedifaccommodationtotheeffectsofwaterhammersmustbedoneinsteadof
elimination.Themitigationwouldreducetheeffectsonthepipingsystemandother

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

componentssothattheymightbeabletowithstandtheforcesresultingfromthepressure
transients.Alongwithmitigation,someredesignorreinforcementofthepipingandsupport
systemmaystillbenecessary.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Somedesignandproceduraltechniquesandchangestoconsiderare:

Analysis,designandconstruction,includingmodifications,toreducetheeffectsof
anticipatedwaterhammersandtomitigatetheeffectsofunanticipatedones.
Installationofvacuumbreakerstoreplacesteamvoidandpreventvacuumformation.
Installationofdesignsthatpreventinadvertentdrainageandcreationofhighpoint
voids.
Designswhicheliminatedeadlegsandstagnantsectionswithoutadequateventsand
drains.
Ensurethatasbuiltpipeconfigurationsandslopesarecorrectinordertopreventthe
formationofcondensatetrapsorpoolingfrominadequatedraining.
Findingwaystokeepsystemswatersolidorensuringthattechniquesalreadyinplace
dothejobadequately.
Useofmaintenanceandoperatingtechniquesthatpreventtheaccumulationofsteam
innormallywaterfilledsystems.
Useofvoiddetectiondevices.
Improvedventinganddrainingprocedures.
Useofappropriatewarmingtechniquesandprocedures.
Filllocationsandfillratesshouldbetightlycontrolledandmonitored.
Eliminatevalveslamsthroughtheuseofcontrolledclosuredevices,andensurethat
thosedevicesworkproperly.
Selectvalveactuatorswhicharedesignedtominimizeopeningorclosureproblems
thatmightresultinwaterhammers.
Ensurethatvalveactuatorsfunctionproperlywithoutstickingandjumping,andthat
levelcontrolsaresettoavoidunnecessaryrepetitiveand/orrapidcycling.
Providepressureequalizationpathsanddevicesthatreducetherisksfromhaving
widelyvariantpressuresacrossavalveorpumppriortooperation.
Provideappropriateandadequatepressurereliefvalvesorschemes.
Installsurgetanks,orsurgesuppressiondevicesinpumpsystemswhereappropriate.
Preventreverserotationofpumpsafterpowerfailures.
Preventautomaticorquickrestartsofpumpswhilethereisstillreverseflowinthe
attachedpipe.

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EPRILicensedMaterial

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Anumberofcomputerprogramsexisttoaidinmodeling,analysisanddesigntoavoidwater
hammers.Thesemaybedesignedforsingleortwophaseflowanalysis.EPRINP6766
evaluatedseveraloftheavailablecodes,AWHAM,FLOWNET,HSTA,HYTN33,LIQT,
WATHAM,andRELAP5/MOD2.Othercodesmayalsobeavailablewhichwerenot
evaluated.

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EPRILicensedMaterial

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

6.0 NUCLEARCONSIDERATIONS

Thefollowingarenuclearapplicationswhereconsiderationoftheprevention,eliminationand
mitigationofwaterhammereventsisespeciallyimportant:

Pipingsystems,includinghighandlowenergysteamandwatersystemsandother
hydraulicfluidsystems
Pipesupportandsnubberdesignandinstallation
Designandinstallationofotherpipingandcomponentssuchasflanges,orifices,
strainers,rupturedisks
Instrumentationandtheassociatedpipingortubing
Valves,includingcheckvalves,controlvalvesandpressurereliefvalves
Valveoperatorsandpositionersfortheabove
Pumpsandstrainers
Heatexchangersandcoolers

Apartfromtheobviouspersonnelsafetyandequipmentdamageconsiderations,pressure
boundariesassociatedwithnuclearsafetyrelatedsystemsshouldbeevaluatedforwaterhammer
vulnerabilities,lestlicensingbasisareviolatedinworstcaseoperatingconditions.

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EPRILicensedMaterial

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

7.0 UTILITYEXAMPLEEXERCISESANDSOLUTIONS

EPRINP6766shouldbeconsultedforcasestudies.

7.1 ExerciseNo.1:WaterHammerDuetoCheckValveVibration

APWRplantexperiencedafeedwatersystemwaterhammereventthatresultedinpipe
distortion.

Thesequenceofeventswas:
1. Lossofpowertoonefeedwaterpump.
2. Unittrip.
3. Immediatelossofpowertothesecondfeedwaterpump.
4. Startupofthesteamdrivenauxiliaryfeedwaterpump,deliveringabout100gpmto
thesteamgenerators.
5. Restorationofpower,andstartupofthemotordrivenauxiliaryfeedwaterpumps,
deliveringabout150gpmtoeachofthesteamgenerators.
6. Auxiliaryfeedwaterflowwasthrottledtozero,thenincreasedto25gpm.
7. AwaterhammeroccurredinthefeedwatersysteminthelooptotheBsteam
generator.

Evaluationofthedamagerevealedsignificantlinedistortion.Therootcauseanalysis
revealedapossibleproblemwiththecheckvalve.Itwasdiscoveredthatatlowflowthe
valveexperiencedextremediskmotionandtapping.Atgreaterflows,thediskcontinuedto
tap,andasflowincreased,finallyremainedfullyopen.Asflowswereincreasedfurther,the
valveagainbegantoexperiencemotionandtapping.

Solution:

Theunexpectedflowinducedvibrationofthecheckvalvewascausedbytheinsufficient
flowrate.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Therecommendedcorrectiveactionstobetakenwere:

Installationofredundantcheckvalves
Reworkofthepipingtogiveitthecorrectslope
Useofcheckvalve(s)withanimproveddesignthatwouldnotbesubjecttounwanted
motionatlowflows
Repairofthedamagetotheline
Appropriatechangestooperatingprocedures

7.2 ExerciseNo.2:PumpShutdownResultsinDamage:

Upper
Surge
Tank

Recirc/
Mini-Flow

Pump
S/G

Figure9:PumpShutdown

Thesequenceofeventsforahammeroccurrencewasasfollows:

1. Recirc/MiniFlowvalvewasclosedastheresultofaflowswitchpicking
upindicatingsufficientmainheaderflowrate
2. Steamgenerator(S/G)wasreceivingfullflowfrompump
3. Pumpwasthenlatermanuallystopped
4. S/GcheckvalveclosedwhenthepressureinpipedroppedlowerthantheS/G
pressure
5. Astheflowdecreased,Recirc/MiniFlowvalvefailedtoopenasitwasdesignedto
6. Thisresultedinrupturedgasketsandinstrumentationonsuctionpiping

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

Describewhatlikelyhappenedandprovidearesolution.

Solution:

Pressuretrappedinthepumpdischargelineandpumpinternalstransferredtothesuctionside
ofthepump.Thepumpsuctioncheckvalveslammedclosed,generatingastrongpressure
waveatpumpinlet.Thesuctionpipingwasnotdesignedforhighpressuresinceitordinarily
seesonlythewaterheadfromtheUpperSurgeTank.

Therecommendedcorrectiveaction:

Installasufficientlylargereliefvalvetopumpsuctionpiping.

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EPRILicensedMaterial

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

8.0 SOURCEDOCUMENTATION

1. AvoidingSteamBubbleCollapseInducedWaterHammersinPipingSystems,EPRINP
6447.Cambridge,MA:MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,1989.
2. Baumeister,T.MarksStandardHandbookforMechanicalEngineers.NewYork,NY:
McGrawHill,1996.
3. Blevins,RobertD.FlowInducedVibration,2ndedition.NewYork,NY:VanNostrand
Reinhold,1990.
4. Chiu,Chong.RootCauseAnalysisandCorrectiveActionsforPowerPlants.SanClemente,
CA:FailurePrevention,Inc.,1992.
5. Daugherty,RobertL.andFranzini,JosephB.FluidMechanicswithEngineering
Applications.NewYork,NY:McGrawHill,7thedition,1977.
6. Giles,RanaldV.FluidMechanicsandHydraulics,2ndedition.NewYork,NY:McGrawHill,
1962.
7. Karassik,IgorJ.PumpHandbook.NewYork,NY:McGrawHill,2ndedition,1986.
8. SparksandvonNimitz.ControllingtheEffectsofPulsationsandFluidTransientsinPiping
Systems,SeminarReportNumber160.SanAntonio,TX:SouthwestResearchInstitute,1979.
9. WaterHammerHandbookforNuclearPlantEngineersandOperators,EPRITR106438.
PleasantHills,CA:EPRI,1996.
10. WaterHammerPrevention,MitigationandAccommodation,EPRINP6766.PleasantHills,
CA:StoneandWebster,1992;
Volume1:PlantWaterHammerExperience.
Volume2:RootCauseAnalysisforPlantWaterHammerExperience.
Volume3:ExperimentalandEngineeringData.
Volume4,Part1:ReviewofAnalyticModelsandComputerCodes,SampleProblemsand
Comparisons.
Volume4,Part2:ReviewofAnalyticModelsandComputerCodes,TheoreticalBases.
Volume5,Part1:WaterHammerAssessmentGuidelines.
Volume5,Part2:WaterHammerPreventionGuidelines.
Volume5,Part3:WaterHammerDiagnosticGuidelines.
Volume6:ReviewofPlantSystemsandProcedures.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

WaterHammerPrevention,VT102668,VideoTape1,IntroductionandDiagnostics
GuidelinesandVideoTape2,AssessmentandPreventionGuidelines.

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EPRILicensedMaterial

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

9.0 INDUSTRYOPERATINGEXPERIENCE

OnSeptember24,1996,duringtherestartofOconeeUnit2,facilitypersonnelweremanually
realigningthemoistureseparatorreheater(MSR)drainsatapproximately50percentpower
whenan18inchsecondstageMSRdrainlineruptured.Thewater/steamwasata
temperatureofapproximately400F,250psig,andburnedsevenplantworkerswhowere
manuallyrealigningvalvestofeedforwardtothefeedwaterheaters.An18inchpipe
betweenthesecondstagereheatersandthefeedwaterheatersrupturedwherea45degree
stubwasattached.Itwasdeterminedthattheprocedureforthemanualvalvealignmenthad
notbeenrevisedtoincludetheguidanceaboutsystempressuresandvalveopeningtime,
resultingintheoperatorsopeningthevalvesearlierinthestartupthanplanned.Also,the
valveswereopenedoveraperiodofminutesinsteadofthe11/2hourperiodthatwasused
duringanearlierstartup.

Thesubsequentreverseflowinitiatedthedestructivecondensationinducedwaterhammer,
whichincludedthecombinedphenomenaofwaterslugmotionandsteamvoidcollapse.

AnotherwaterhammereventinthesameUnit2secondstagereheaterdrainsystemhad
occurredinMay1996.Thiswaterhammerwasdeterminedtobecausedbytheopeningof
thehighleveldivertvalveandtheresultantreverseflow.Asaresult,asupportfailedonthe
samepipethatlaterruptured.

Reviewofonsitedocumentationrevealedthatwaterhammershadprobablyoccurredonthe
secondstagereheaterdrainsystemsinceinitialplantstartup.

EPRINP6766includesathoroughreviewoftheindustryoperatingexperiencethroughthe
dateofitspublication.Atthattime,itwasstated,utilityrepresentativespointedoutthat
waterhammerwasstilloneofthemaincausesofcostlyequipmentdamageandexpresseda
needforguidanceindealingwiththesetypesofevents.Thiswasinspiteofeffortstomake
appropriatedesignandproceduralmodificationstoeliminateormitigatewaterhammers.
Eventhoughthefrequencyofoccurrencehadbeenreduced,theystilloccurred.

Thetypesofeventsdescribedabovehavebeenknowntooccurinthefollowingplant
systems:

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

BWRsauxiliarysteam,circulatingwater,condensate,feedwater,fireprotection,high
pressurecoolantinjection,isolationcondenser,lowpressurecorespray,mainsteam,
moistureseparatorreheaterventanddrain,reactorcoolant,reactorcoreisolationcooling,
residualheatremoval,reactorwatercleanup,andservicewatersystems.

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

PWRsauxiliaryfeedwater,auxiliarysaltwater,chemicalandvolumecontrol,
circulatingwater,componentcoolingwater,condensate,containmentspray,fire
protection,feedwater,feedwaterheaterdrains,mainsteam,reactorcoolant,residualheat
removal,servicecoolingwater,steamgenerator,steamgeneratorblowdown,andsafety
injectionsystems.

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EPRILicensedMaterial

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

10.0 PROFICIENCYMEASURES

10.1 ProficiencyMeasures(Questions):

1. Identifythethreegeneralclassesofwaterhammers.
2. Whatarethesevencommonmechanismsthatproducewaterhammers?
3. Namesixconsequencesofawaterhammerevent.
4. Forahammercausedbyafastclosingvalve,istheresultingpressureincreasedependent
oneitherthelengthordiameterofthepipe.
5. Steamsystemhammereventsaremostoftendueto__________.
6. Thelargerthepipe,themoresusceptibleitistopermanentdeformation.(T,F?)
7. Highlylocalizedplasticdeformationisdirectevidenceofwhattypeofwaterhammer
event?

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 EPRILicensedMaterial

10.2 ProficiencyMeasures(Solutions):

1. Thosecausedbycondensationaccumulation,valveactuation,andcolumnrejoining.
2. Subcooledwaterwithcondensingsteaminaverticalpipe.
Steamandwatercounterflowinahorizontalpipe.
Pressurized water entering a vertical steam-filled pipe.
Hotwaterenteringalowpressureline.
Steampropelledwaterslug.
Rapidvalveactuation.
Fillingofavoidedline.
3. Theconsequencesofawaterhammereventmaybe
Pressureboundaryfailures,includingpipebreaks,whichareoftenconsideredthemost
severeconsequences,butaregenerallyrare.
Damagetocomponents,whichmaybecostlyandtimeconsumingtorepair,and
sometimesgoundiscovered.
Flangeorinstrumentationleakage.
Supportdamagetorestraintsandsnubbers.
Observationofwaterhammereventwithoutdamage.
Theseverityoftheeffectsmaybeworsenediftheacousticresonancesofthepiping,or
thestructuralresonancesoftheconfigurationareexcitedbytheevent(s).
4. No,onlyonthecelerityofthepressurewaveandthechangeinvelocityofthefluid.
5. Waterslugs
6. True
7. Awatersluginducedwaterhammer

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EPRILicensedMaterial

64
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PURPOSE,OR(II)THATSUCHUSEDOESNOTINFRINGEONORINTERFEREWITHPRIVATELY
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OWNEDRIGHTS,INCLUDINGANYPARTYSINTELLECTUALPROPERTY,OR(III)THATTHISPACKAGE
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applicableU.S.andforeignexportlawsandregulations. BEENADVISEDOFTHEPOSSIBILITYOFSUCHDAMAGES)RESULTINGFROMYOURSELECTION
In the event you are uncertain whether you or your ORUSEOFTHISPACKAGEORANYINFORMATION,APPARATUS,METHOD,PROCESSORSIMILAR
company may lawfully obtain access to this EPRI ITEMDISCLOSEDINTHISPACKAGE.
Intellectual Property, you acknowledge that it is your 6.EXPORT
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