Author(s): Massimo Greco; Armando Carravetta
Linked Author(s): Massimo Greco
Keywords: Water hammer; Pipe networks
Abstract: Water hammer is investigated with reference to the simplest network composed of a single bifurcation. The equations describing the process are written in dimensionless form, and the parameters affecting their solution are singled out. Neglecting friction, and considering only instantaneous closures, seven parameters are necessary to identify the system considered. Numerical solutions, varying those parameters, have been computed, to check their influence on the maximum overpressures. The results show that values of overpressure two times greater than the ones expected in a single pipeline can be found. Furthermore, drastic change in the computed overpressures can appear with small changes in diameter, wave speed or pipe length.
Year: 1999