Question

Exaplain why a water hammer is bad and what is it used for?

Answer 1

why is a water hammer bad?

Water hammer is a term which is generally used in pumps and piping system which caused when water flow at a high rate, is suddenly stopped when a valve is quickly closed. Water hammer is typically due to high velocity in water piping due to high water pressure. Water hammering usually results from pump starts and stops, the opening and closing of valves. Due to the inertia of the water’s weight, water flowing through the pipe can actually make the pipe wrack with its force. Water hammer can, however, loosen fittings, especially compression type fittings with neoprene washers, and can also rattle walls, causing other problems

use of water hammer

Some time water hammer has a positive side. Water hammering is beneficial for Hydraulic Rams. Hydraulic Rams generally use the low pressure at lower hydraulic head provided by a short length of downhill pipe and convert it to a much higher delivery pressure and deliver water at the higher hydraulic head. A quickly closing valve causes water hammering and hydraulic ram uses the water hammer effect to develop pressure that supplies the energy required to pump and thus input water can be lifted to a point higher than where the water originally started.