Negative pressures and transient pressures may affect water quality and structural
integrity of distribution mains. A change in the flow rate in a full distribution main will
cause a change in the pressure within that distribution main, either positive or negative.
Positive transient pressures exceeding the structural strength of the distribution main will
cause damage in the form of rupture or, as is more frequently the case, in the form of
latent damage that results in failure at a later date. Negative pressures may cause damage
in the form of structural collapse of flexible distribution main materials, and
waterhammer, and may lead to the intrusion of contaminated groundwater into the water
main.
Advances in
digital data processing systems have significantly improved our ability to continuously
monitor and record negative pressures and even the very-short waterhammer event.
These improvements have facilitated monitoring for transient pressures under a wide
variety of circumstances. Early detection of damaging transient pressure events is now
more practicable, thus permitting the reduction of damage to distribution mains resulting
from these events. This paper briefly describes the causes of transient pressures and
improvements in tools available to detect transient pressures. It concludes with
suggestions to civil engineers and distribution main owners regarding what can be done to
reduce damages from transient pressures. Includes 4 references, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 640 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 9 |
| Published : | 09/01/2005 |
