Water Hammer

[TomosSmith]

Hello,

We're experiencing water hammer in a fire water network. The pump closed valve pressure is 15 bar, but when the pump is shut down, we experience an instantaneous pressure spike up to 21 bar (measured with a paper disk type pressure recorder). The spike happens when the swing check valve slams shut.

There have been some suggestions that replacing the check valve with a quicker acting valve, such as a double disk check valve, will reduce the backflow through the valve at time of closing and reduce the pressure spike.

I'm looking for advice and suggestions of other methods that I could investigate to eliminate the problem.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

 

[BigInch]

Firewater systems often have hammer problems because the power of the jockey pump is too much for the small size and short lengths of the pipes. Since the pressures hover near maximum, only being topped off by the jockey pump, there is little room in the pipe for any more water, so just a little bit added, or removed will give a pretty good spike. You could try a softer jockey pump startup & shutdowns.

Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. - Pablo Picasso