Description:

Water hammer can occur in any liquid piping system when steady-state flow conditions are disturbed. Rapid changes in flow velocity can generate surge pressures that, in extreme cases, may cause piping failure and damage to associated equipment. These effects arise from coupled pressure and velocity waves propagating through the piping system.
 
Surge events may be initiated by valve or check-valve closure, power failure, changes in operating direction, or relief events. In large pumping and tailings management systems, reverse flow through the pump is often overlooked. Where dredges pump slurry over a dyke high point, a pump trip without a check valve can result in flow reversal and significant reverse pump rotational speeds.