Fluid Transient Analysis
Services
Asset Integrity utilises software specifically designed for the modelling of fluid transients, and can provide practical engineering solutions to these problems. Complimenting services which Asset Integrity can provide include finite element analysis (FEA), on-site measurements and troubleshooting, and pipe stress analysis.
About Water Hammer Analysis
Transient events in a liquid system such as pump start/shutdown or rapid valve closure/opening can cause elevated pressures and large dynamic displacements/forces throughout a system. These elevated pressures have the capacity to damage pumps, valves, piping and associated supports.
Pressure transients are highly dependent on the possible operating scenarios of the system. Some common operating scenarios include starting multiple pumps simultaneously (or with a slight delay), the sequenced closure of valves, or the response of a valve to a pressure change. In most cases all operating scenarios need to be considered during the analysis, and modelled appropriately.
Rapid pressure fluctuations in a liquid system can also lead to localised pressure drops in the fluid, causing cavitation or flashing. This can result in relatively quick and potentially severe internal damage to piping and valves, excessive vibration of nearby piping/fittings/structures, damage to pumps, and slamming of non-return valves.
REQUEST QUOTE
“Elevated pressures have the capacity to damage pumps, valves, piping and associated supports.”
| Typical Problem | Analysis Type | Asset |
|---|---|---|
| Propensity for cavitation downstream of a firewater control valve | - Calculations - Water hammer Analysis | - Pipe |
| Design of a seawater/tempered-water system with three pumps in parallel | - Water hammer Analysis | - Cooling System - Pipe / Valve / Fitting - Centrifugal Pump |
| Failure of bursting discs due to pressure spikes | - Water hammer Analysis - Field Measurements | - Pipe - Redundancy System |
| Large pipe displacement due to a pressure transient event | - Water hammer Analysis - Field Measurements | - Pipe / Valve / Fitting - Pipe Support - Structure |
| Slamming of non-return valve causing valve damage | - Water hammer Analysis - Field Measurements | - Valve |
| Possible liquid column separation | - Water hammer Analysis - Field Measurements | - Pipe / Valve / Fitting - Pipe Support - Structure |
| Design checks for forces at elbows, tees and other momentum change points | - Water hammer Analysis | - Pipe / Valve / Fitting - Pipe Support - Structure |