Water Hammer

Preventing Water Hammer: Protecting Equipment and Lives

Water hammer, also known as hydraulic shock, is a dangerous phenomenon in piping systems that can damage machinery, cause costly downtime, and pose serious safety risks. It occurs when fast-moving water is suddenly stopped or reversed, creating a powerful shock wave that travels through the system—often producing a loud bang.

Water hammer can cause serious damage and costly downtime.
Ensure your system is protected today!

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The Risks of
Water Hammer

The intense pressure spikes caused by water hammer can lead to:

  • Equipment damage: Ruptured pipes, broken valves, fractured fittings, and pump failures

  • Operational downtime: Expensive repairs and lost production time

  • Safety hazards: Flying debris and potential injuries.

Real-world incidents highlight its dangers:

  • A power plant suffered a major pipe rupture due to backflow pressure

  • A food plant’s water deluge system failed, releasing thousands of gallons over production equipment

  • A university building’s water line burst due to condensation-induced water hammer.

Don’t wait for failure
prevent water hammer now with the right solutions!

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Minimizing
Water Hammer

Proper pipeline design and selecting the right valves are crucial in preventing water hammer. Traditional swing check valves are slow to close, allowing backflow and shock waves to develop. In contrast, spring-loaded, poppet-style check valves close smoothly before reverse flow begins, eliminating the risk.

Choosing
the Right Check Valve

The most effective check valves have these key features:

  • Spring-loaded: Closes before reverse water flow starts
  • Poppet-style: Uses a disc mechanism for a secure seal
  • Silent operation: Prevents banging noises and pressure surges.

Other critical design considerations include proper valve sizing, placement, and compliance with industry safety standards.

Another issue that is often overlooked is eliminating trapped air within your system. Trapped Air within a system is an invisible culprit that can also contribute greatly to water hammer. Proper sizing and proper selection of an air valve is extremely important to the day to day operation of your system. The three types of air release valve,

  1. Air Release Valve that relieves air while the line is under pressure at the high point
  2. Air and Vacuum Valve that relieves air while filling the line and provides vacuum relief when draining the line
  3. Combination Air Valves that perform both functions.

Selecting the proper check valve and the proper air release valve goes a long way in protecting your system from:

  1. Water Hammer
  2. Pressure Spikes
  3. System failures.

Complete Air Release Valve System in Action

siron deluge services water hammer how to work

Air Release & Vacuum Breaker Valves

Model 33A Flanged

Pressure Class 150 Lb (INLET)

siron deluge services water hammer flanged valve 33a

Model 33A Treaded

Pressure Class 300 Lb

siron deluge services water hammer treaded valve 33a

Take Action

Water hammer is entirely preventable. By investing in the right valve technology and ensuring proper system design, businesses can protect equipment, enhance worker safety, and maintain seamless operations..

Water hammer is preventable.
Take action now to protect your equipment and ensure smooth operations!

Protect Your System Now

Contact

SIRON Deluge Service Today

Protect your system from water hammer damage with expert solutions from SIRON Deluge Services. We offer tailored protection for both offshore and onshore piping systems, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and safety.

Get in touch today for a consultation!
Call us at +31 53 750 3044 or fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.





    Don’t hesitate to contact us any time

    Don’t hesitate to contact us any time