WATER HAMMER
The term used to express the resulting
shock in a pipeline caused by the
sudden decrease or stoppage of motion
(rate of flow or velocity) of the fluid.
CELERITY
Speed at which the pressure
wave is moving
PRESSURE WAVE
The wave transmitting the
pressure which stops the lamina
of fluid due to closing of valve
For Rigid pipe:
𝑬𝑩
𝒄=
𝝆
Where:
c = celerity of pressure waves
EB = bulk modulus of elasticity of the fluid
ρ = density of fluid
For non-rigid pipes:
𝑬𝑩
𝒄=
𝑬𝑩 𝒅
𝝆 𝟏+
𝑬𝒕
Where:
c = celerity of pressure waves
EB = bulk modulus of elasticity of the fluid
E = modulus of elasticity of the pipe wall
t = pipe thickness
d = internal diameter
ρ = density of fluid
The time for the pressure wane to travel
from A to B and back again is:
𝟐𝑳
𝑻=
𝒄
Where:
c = celerity of pressure waves
L = length of pipe
Pressure Change due to Water
hammer:
𝒑𝒉 = 𝝆𝒄𝑽
Where:
c = celerity of pressure waves
v = velocity of flow
ρ = density of fluid
1. Water flows at a rate of 2 m/s in a 2.5 km long 600
mm pipe that is 20 mm thick. Bulk modulus of
elasticity of water, EB = 2.2 x 109 Pa. Modulus of
elasticity of pipe material is E = 1.4 x 1011 Pa. Density
of Water is 998 kg/m3.
a. Compute the value of the velocity of pressure wave in
m/s.
b. If a valve at the end of the pipe is closed, determine
the maximum time of closure that can be considered
as instantaneous closure.
c. Calculate the rise in pressure near the valve due to
instantaneous closure of the valve.
Given:
EB = 2.2 x 109 Pa L = 2.5 km = 2500 m ρ = 998 kg/m3
E = 1.4 x 1011 Pa d = 600 mm
v = 2 m/s t = 20 mm
Solution:
a. Compute the value of the velocity of pressure wave in m/s.
𝑬𝑩
𝒄=
𝑬 𝒅
𝝆 𝟏+ 𝑩
𝑬𝒕
2.2 x 109 Pa
𝒄=
2.2 x 109 Pa(600 mm )
998 kg/m3 𝟏+
1.4 x 1011 Pa (20 mm )
𝒄 = 1223.99 m/s
b. If a valve at the end of the pipe is closed, determine the
maximum time of closure that can be considered as instantaneous
closure.
2𝐿
𝑇=
𝑐
2 (2500 𝑚)
𝑇=
1223.99 𝑚/𝑠
𝑻 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟖𝟓 𝒔
c. Calculate the rise in pressure near the valve due to
instantaneous closure of the valve.
𝑝ℎ = 𝜌𝑐𝑣
𝑘𝑔 𝑚
𝑝ℎ = 998 3 1223.99 2 m/s
𝑚 𝑠
𝒑𝒉 = 2, 443 kPa
2. The elasticity and dimensions of a pipe leading from a
reservoir are such that the celerity of pressure wave is
975 m/s. The pipe has a length of 610 m and a diameter
of 1.2 m. The flow is initially 0.85 m3 /s.
a. Compute the water hammer pressure for
instantaneous valve closure.
b. Compute the approximate water hammer pressure at
the valve if it is closed in 4 s.
c. Calculate the pressure that is expected when the
discharge drops almost instantly from 0.85 m3/s to
0.28 m3/s.
Given:
c = 975 m/s L = 610 m d = 1.2 m. Q = 0.85 m3 /s.
Solution:
Solving for the area of the pipe:
𝜋 2 𝜋
𝐴= 𝑑 = 1.2 𝑚 2 = 1.131 𝑚2
4 4
Solving for the velocity:
𝑄 0.85
𝑣= = = 0.752 𝑚/𝑠
𝐴 1.131
a. Compute the water hammer pressure for
Instantaneous valve closure.
𝑝ℎ = 𝜌𝑐𝑣 = 1000 975 0.752 = 𝟕𝟑𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝑷𝒂
b. Compute the approximate water hammer pressure at
the valve if it is closed in 4 s.
Time of travel:
2𝐿 2 610
𝑡𝑡 = = = 1.25 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑐 975
Solving for the pressure if the valve is closed:
𝑝𝑡 𝑡𝑡 = 𝑝𝑐 𝑡𝑐
733.3𝐾𝑃𝑎 1.25𝑠 = 𝑝𝑐 4𝑠
𝒑𝒄 = 𝟐𝟐𝟗. 𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝒌𝑷𝒂
c. Calculate the pressure that is expected when the
discharge drops almost instantly from 0.85 m3/s to 0.28
m3/s.
Solving for the velocity due to the drop of discharge:
′
0.28 𝑚
𝑣 = 𝑣𝑖 − 𝑣𝑓 = 0.752 − = 0.5044
1.131 𝑠
Solving for the pressure that is expected when
discharge drops:
𝑝 = 𝜌𝑐𝑣 = 1000 975 0.5044
𝒑 = 𝟒𝟗𝟏. 𝟕𝟗 𝒌𝑷𝒂
