Avoiding water hammer and other hydraulic transients

Water hammer may occur upon rapidly closing a water pipe valve. Oscillating pressure waves generated in the system cause significant equipment damage, including joint leaks and even rupture. Similar phenomena can when starting stopping pumps. As various situations potentially damaging waves, related are grouped as “hydraulic transients.” The not limited to pipes any liquid, condensed gases such chlorine, ammonia, liquefied natural gas (LNG). Hydraulic transients deserve more coverage college courses textbooks on process safety, while at an industrial level, topic should be considered design hazard reviews. This article provides brief introduction with focus mitigation methods. Available options evaluated during rather than applied retroactively after problem becomes evident.