How to eliminate water hammer in steam-containing hot water pipes?
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Hey everyone: My unit has a cooling pipe for the reactor, and it contains hot water along with some steam; as a result, I often hear loud thudding sounds. I suspect this is due to the water hammer effect caused by the steam present in the hot water. This phenomenon also leads to excessive stress at the pipe bends; water has leaked from the welds on two occasions, along with steam. How can this problem be solved? I checked online and found water hammer arrestors, but it seems they are only suitable for room temperature water. I’m already extremely stressed over this issue; could everyone please offer some constructive advice to help clear things up in my mind? Thank you very much
Under the given conditions, installing condensate recovery facilities at each emission point generally helps to alleviate the problem significantly.
A backflow valve and a steam trap are installed at the steam inlet; the normally open configuration ensures that no liquid is carried along with the steam, thereby increasing the superheat level and preventing the presence of water in the steam. If this humming noise persists for a long time, the pipes will start to leak
The medium in the cooling pipeline is hot water, which contains steam; it is recommended to install an automatic vent valve at the highest point of the pipeline.
A gas-liquid separation device can be installed at the cooling water outlet, and then ways must be found to remove or cool the steam.
Find out which of the various branches has the highest and lowest temperatures overall. First, determine whether it is this temperature difference that causes the condensate water to be heated and vaporized. Personally, I suggest using separate branches, or else reducing the temperature of the condensate water (by using water at a temperature above 100 degrees Celsius to preheat the materials used in the process). You mentioned a water hammer suppressor… if I’m not mistaken, that is generally used in residential settings. When the faucet in a residential house is turned on, the pressure pump starts working; when the faucet is turned off, the pressure pump stops. To eliminate stress caused by these on/off cycles, a water hammer suppressor needs to be installed. Some people also suggest installing automatic exhaust systems at higher locations, but this can be dangerous as well, as the area where such exhaust systems are installed must be free of people walking around. Additionally, water hammer problems might occur in other areas after installation. These are just my thoughts
I’m from the equipment field and have only a basic understanding of the manufacturing process. There isn’t a dedicated air inlet; rather, it’s the hot water pipes in this section, along with the heat exchanger, that are used to cool and heat the reactor. The reactor temperature can reach over 140 degrees, and the pressure is 4 kilograms, so sometimes part of the hot water vaporizes due to changes inside the pipes. Installing a steam trap doesn’t seem to be a viable solution. Thank you for your answer, sir
Add a gas-liquid separation unit; install an exhaust device at a higher position
This matter needs to be analyzed carefully – is it cooling water or heating water? How does overheating generate steam? You need to cool a reactor at over 140 degrees; hot water tends to undergo flashing, which inevitably results in some steam being produced, and it will be superheated steam as well, but in limited quantities. A buffer vent tank can be installed on the cooling water outlet pipe; as the temperature of the reactor decreases, no steam is present in the Outflow, and the steam inside the tank also gradually condenses into water. It is believed that this can prevent the occurrence of \"cavitation surge\" phenomena.
The hot water inside the pipe evaporated, producing steam, and that’s what caused the water hammer, right? So, is there any fluctuation in the heat of this reactor? If it remains relatively stable, can the issue be resolved by increasing the water flow? It is to control the outlet temperature of the hot water so that it remains in a liquid state at all times. What is the water pressure in your pipes as well? Can the pressure be increased?
Install a steam trap at the lowest point of the pipeline