Surge (transient) analysis — modelling water hammer from pump trips and valve closures, and sizing the protection that stops it damaging the system.
Hydraulic Modelling — in depth
Sudden flow changes — a pump trip or fast valve closure — send pressure waves (water hammer) through a pipeline that can burst pipes or collapse them under vacuum. Transient analysis predicts the peak and minimum pressures and sizes the protection — surge vessels, air valves, slow-closing valves — that keeps the system safe.
What matters in practice
Pressure waves from sudden change.
Low-pressure damage risk.
Air/bladder vessels absorb the wave.
Air valves and slow closure.
| Event | Risk | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Pump trip | Down-surge | Surge vessel |
| Valve close | Over-pressure | Slow closure |
| Vacuum | Collapse | Air valve |
| Analysis | Peak/min P | Transient model |
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