WATER HAMMER SOLUTIONS

S
The Water Hammer Problem
Water hammer is created by anything in the system which
will change fluid velocity abruptly, such as a pump stopping
suddenly or a valve being closed too quickly. Flowing water
in a pipeline possesses kinetic energy because of its mass
and velocity. When its velocity is abruptly changed, this
energy is converted to pressure. This pressure occurs in the
form of a shock wave (water hammer) which can cause the
piping or other system components to fail.
The Water Hammer Solution
To prevent water hammer, several techniques may be
used. The object is to allow the fluid column to deceler-
ate gradually, preventing excessive surge pressures.
When water hammer protection is required, a simple
and effective method is to use a Fluid Kinetics
hydropneumatic surge arrestor.

4 I
What Is a Surge Arrestor?
A Fluid Kinetics Surge Arrestor is a hydropneumatic tank
with specially designed energy dissipating internals. Its
function is to provide water to and accept water from the
pipeline, thereby allowing gradual deceleration of the fluid
column and reduction of return surge. Predetermined OUTFLOW
upsurge and downsurge limitations are met by correct
sizing of the tank and its internals.

How Does a Surge Arrestor Work?

The Fluid Kinetics Surge Arrestor is connected to the pump
discharge manifold and is open to line pressure. When the
pump shuts down and the fluid column moves away,
pressure at the surge arrestor connection to the line
decreases, creating a pressure imbalance. The surge
arrestor automatically reacts to this imbalance by pumping
water rapidly into the line. This outflow action continues until
the fluid column comes to rest and starts its return flow back
towards the pump. INFLOW
Now the surge arrestor acts as a brake, absorbing this
return energy in friction from the internal energy dissipater
and compression of the air charge. This outflow-inflow
pattern provides the correct amount of system dampening
to prevent column separation and limit excessive return
surge and pressure cycling.
The Fluid Kinetics Surge Arrestor-
Safe, Failure-Proof Protection: MULTI-PROSE
LEVEL
CONTROLLER
AIR FILL+@
No Moving Parts to Wear Out
The expansion and compression of the surge arrestor air
charge provides the required power for the outflow-inflow SIGHT
GLASS
action. The stationary energy dissipater precisely controls
the flow rate in both directions.

Minimum Maintenance
A monthly check of the air-water level and topping off of the
air charge is typically all the maintenance the surge
arrestor ever requires. Try valves or sight glass make this a
simple job. Automatic level controls are usually provided
for larger systems. DRAIN
VALVE

Prevents the Problem

Since the pressure condition in the pipeline is sensed
directly by the surge arrestor, it reacts immediately to WATER SERVICE
pressure decrease, outflowing water to the pipeline before
column separation can start. Other methods require
anticipatory devices, which sometimes react too slowly or
RF-PROSE
fail to react at all.

Guaranteed Performance AIR FILL

By the use of its exclusive library of computer programs,
Fluid Kinetics is able to accurately predict the surge
SIGHT
characteristics of any system using a Fluid Kinetics Surge GLASS
Arrestor. This capability, backed by Fluid Kinetics
experience in the field, allows guaranteed, clearly defined
surge limits to be met - something not available with other
devices.

Other Applications LEG

SUPPORTS
Fluid Kinetics has been providing practical solutions for the
control of water hammer problems since 1970. Large water SELF-FLUSHING
systems and waste water/raw sewage are handled by the INLET DESIGN
Fluid Kinetics Model SAC Surge Arrestor. Contact Fluid
Kinetics with application specifics for a precise, custom
engineered Solution to water hammer on your next system. RAW SEWAGE
 FLUID KINETICS
Fluid Kinetics Corporation
2368 Eastman Avenue, Suite 8
Ventura, California 93003
Phone: (805) 644-5587
Fax: (805) 644-1080

Fluid Kinetics Surge Arrestors are Specified Nationwide:

Boyle Engineering Corporation Leedshill - Herkenhoff Inc.

Newport Beach, California Albuquerque, New Mexico

Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc.

Cambridge, Massachusetts Wakefield, Massachusetts

CH2M Hill Montgomery - Watson

Corvalis, Oregon Pasadena, California

ESI - Parsons Sverdrup Corporation

Pasadena, California St. Louis, Missouri