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Steam Hammer due to valve opening

Steam Hammer due to valve opening

Steam Hammer due to valve opening

(OP)
Hi,

I am trying to figure out the effect of fast opening of valve containing high pressure steam (1140 psi) on one side to a large condenser coil tubes. The tube is U shaped 1.5" OD, SST. How do I calculate the hammering loads. Does the fast opening of valve has any significant effect on the system ?

Any reference to literature addressing this phenomenon would be greatly appreciated. I have a lot of literature on valve opening (Jourowsky Euqation). But the valve opening phenomenon has not be addressed widely.

Thanks

RE: Steam Hammer due to valve opening


I suggest you address this to a steam specialist, or at least a steam related forum.

You could probably by searching (Spirax Sarco, Gestra, Armstrong, Velan and many others) find a valve that could control and withstand the release of such a pressure to a considerably lower pressure and temperature.

The 'but' is that handling steam is always a specialist issue, where pressure, temperature and steam conditions (overheated steam, condension rate, steam water mix, drainage etc) on both sides have to be considered, as well as proper layout of the whole setup. Condense draining by steamtraps and proper handling and regulation must be included.

If for instance your cooling coil already have some water content the result by sudden releasing steam into the tube at higer pressure will result in catastrophic/damaging water hammer. Next is proper calculation of line size (P1T1/V1 = P2V2/T2), outlet control and cooling amount area etc. etc.

Very easy to take a wrong step here!

RE: Steam Hammer due to valve opening

You are not really describing the problem sufficiently. What part is your actual concern?

Do you know what the pressure will be in steady state? If so I don't see that the transient pressure would rise above that.

RE: Steam Hammer due to valve opening

(OP)
I am concerned about the water slug formation as the high steam velocity pass through the condensing coil. This slug could then cause water hammer as it hits the elbow wall

RE: Steam Hammer due to valve opening

Search Google for the following, it may provide you better understanding of the phenomenon:

"Steam Bubble Collapse, Water Hammer and Piping Network Response Volume I. Steam Bubble Collapse and Water Hammer in Piping Systems: Experiments and Analysis by R. Gruel, W. Hurwitz, P. Huber and P. Griffith"

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