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Corresponding Author

Eslam Reda Lotfy

Subject Area

Mechanical Power Engineering

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

The analysis of water hammer in low-head hydraulic systems holds significant importance compared to that in high-head systems, particularly given instances where Thorley’s equation may fall short in providing accurate pump inertia values. In situations where manufacturer data are unavailable, proactive measures to mitigate potential hammering incidents become imperative. While Bentley HAMMER software provides robust simulation capabilities, optimal protection strategies for low-head systems remain underexplored. This case study focuses on a scenario involving multistage centrifugal pumps that lift water from the basement floor of a building to its roof via a polypropylene pipeline. The investigation revealed a novel configuration: relocating surge tanks strategically—placing one at the suction side and one at the discharge side—rather than situating both at discharge. This new arrangement successfully dampened the water hammer at discharge by 100%, reduced suction-side pressure peaks by 60%, and prevented air pocket formation. However, conventional devices such as surge anticipator valves and air valves showed inefficacy in this context, and using them together caused a severe hammer comparable to that in an unprotected system. The results underscore the necessity for system-specific protection strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all application of standard devices in hydraulic networks.

Keywords

Anticipator valve; Pipe network; Software; Surge tanks; Water hammer

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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