Surge Control Tower Layout for Passive Water Hammer Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passive and active surge control devices for water hammer protection in pipelines are limited by terrain topography and require continuous maintenance, with failures leading to pipeline damage, while Gravity Control Towers face high thrust forces and are non-viable in unfavorable terrain.
Innovation Solution
The Surge Control Tower (SCT) system uses a series of short towers below the operating hydraulic gradient level, creating stepped segmentation to arrest both upsurges and downsurges, utilizing air cushioning effects and air valves to control water hammer transients without power or maintenance, and is designed using professional simulation software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional passive surge control devices (surge tanks, standpipes) are erected above maximum upsurge HGL level, then water hammer protection is provided, but the devices require very tall structures that are limited to favorable terrain topography and become non-viable in unfavorable terrain
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing surge control devices above the maximum upsurge HGL level as in traditional designs, the present invention inverts this approach by positioning the surge control tower below the operating HGL level. The tower crest is maintained at a level below the operating HGL, eliminating the need for tall above-ground structures while still providing effective water hammer protection through the interaction between the tower structure and air valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from vertical above-ground surge control structures to a below-ground configuration. By placing the surge control tower underground or below the HGL level and using air valves to manage pressure dynamics, the solution moves the protective function to a different spatial dimension, making it adaptable to various terrain conditions without requiring tall above-ground structures.
2Speed
If active surge control devices (air vessels, hydro-phonic tanks, surge valves) are used to control water hammer waves, then response time is reduced to fraction of a second, but the devices require continuous 24x7 maintenance and are prone to wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The surge control tower system is designed to operate passively without requiring active control mechanisms, moving parts, or continuous maintenance. The structure works in conjunction with air valves that automatically respond to pressure changes, eliminating the need for powered actuators, sensors, or control systems that would require maintenance. The system serves itself through the natural physics of the tower structure and air valve operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex active control components (powered valves, sensors, control systems) from the surge protection system. By removing these maintenance-prone elements and relying solely on the passive tower structure and simple air valves, the system achieves fast response times without the burden of continuous maintenance requirements.
3Extent of automation
If Gravity Control Towers are used for surge protection, then passive control is achieved, but the towers are subjected to extremely high thrust forces at the top that can render the structure non-viable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing high thrust forces to act at the top of the structure as in traditional Gravity Control Towers, the present invention inverts the force management approach by positioning the tower structure below the operating HGL level. This configuration fundamentally changes the force distribution, with the tower crest located below the HGL, thereby reducing the magnitude of thrust forces at the tower top and improving structural viability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The SCT system effectively prevents water hammer damage by maintaining positive pressure, reducing maintenance needs, and ensuring fail-safe operation without moving parts, thus providing a cost-effective and reliable passive protection.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure in the downstream portion of the water supply pump, rapidly drops due to the inertia of water in the pipeline, and a negative pressure is generated
Implementation Method 2
When the negative pressure falls below the saturated vapor pressure of water, water vapor bubbles / steam is generated and a cavity is formed. As these bubbles expand and create splitting of fluid into two separate fluid segments. This phenomenon is called Water Column Separation.
Implementation Method 3
utilizing air cushioning effects and air valves to control water hammer transients
Implementation Method 4
a large pressure (water hammer pressure) may be generated in the pipeline. This phenomenon is known as a Water Hammer Phenomenon
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3-1~3-2
AI summary
A novel passive surge water hammer protection system, which is useful for Automated Surge Water-Hammer Transients control, protection and for preventing water hammer transients from occurring in a water pipeline & pumping plant. The present SCT invention creates two differential HGLs at same junction / node, Upstream level at (16) and Downstream level at (10) inside the circular vertical loop (4) = (1,16,9,10,11,2) an unequal column separation, vertical differential (16,10) is developed, this simple passive method to force the minimum negative pressure from below the pipe invert level to minimum positive pressure (16,10) which is well above the pipe invert level (HGL-3).