What can cause water hammer in a steam system?

What can cause water hammer in a steam system?

• A. A faulty steam trap
• B. Overfired boiler
• C. Low water level
• D. Blocked chimney

Answer: (A)

Water hammer in a steam system happens when liquid condensate in the steam piping is carried along by the moving steam and then forced to stop or change velocity suddenly, creating a pressure surge. Condensate must be removed from the lines by steam traps; if a trap is faulty, condensate can build up or be released in an improper way, forming slugs of water that the steam pushes ahead of it. When flow is interrupted or a valve closes, that water slug slams into the pipe and fittings, producing a shock wave that's felt as water hammer. The other scenarios—an overfired boiler, a low water level in the boiler, or a blocked chimney—affect combustion, boiler pressure, or draft but don’t create the rapid condensate surge in the distribution piping that leads to water hammer.

Water hammer in a steam system happens when liquid condensate in the steam piping is carried along by the moving steam and then forced to stop or change velocity suddenly, creating a pressure surge. Condensate must be removed from the lines by steam traps; if a trap is faulty, condensate can build up or be released in an improper way, forming slugs of water that the steam pushes ahead of it. When flow is interrupted or a valve closes, that water slug slams into the pipe and fittings, producing a shock wave that's felt as water hammer. The other scenarios—an overfired boiler, a low water level in the boiler, or a blocked chimney—affect combustion, boiler pressure, or draft but don’t create the rapid condensate surge in the distribution piping that leads to water hammer.