Water Hammer and Surge Analysis

In a network, especially in liquid networks, sudden closure of a valve creates huge pressures at the upstream of the valve. This is because a large moving mass of the liquid is brought to a halt in a short time. The momentum the liquid carries generates pressures at the valve upstream. This pressure is called water hammer effect and can cause pipe failure by rupture or valve failure etc. PAnORaMA will allow its quantification by setting up the network simulation and creating valve closure scenario as estimate water hammer effects.

The water hammer pressure also has its effect on all other points in a network as the pressure wave travels up and down. Its quantification is called surge analysis and is essential to design pipe supports, thrust blocks etc.

Sudden closure of valve also has a detrimental effect on the downstream side of the valve being closed. Similarly, sudden opening of a valve can cause creation of very low pressure near the valve. This also can be studied by using PAnORaMA.

Similar in nature is the effect of sudden pump failure or sudden pump start up. PAnORaMA can simulate the effect which helps in devising pump operation strategy, especially pump start up and shut down.