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Waterhammer Quiz (updated 9/9/08) . . . .. . . . . . . Video Horizontal Waterhammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hear Water Hammer
Vertical Steam Water Hammer Video . . . . . . .Actions to take Immediately After an Accident . . . Special Topics Below
Virtual Tour of Steam Tunnel Problems
Anchor/ Expansion Joint Common Mistakes--A Detailed Report for NASA at Langley
Water Hammer in Boiler Plants (Column Closure Water Hammer)
Bucket traps can lose their prime upon a sudden pressure drop in the steam system. Link to Incident. (Why this happens is a seminar topic, if requested)
Fascinating historical articles on water hammer in steam systems which correctly anticipated the mechanism of condensation-induced waterhammer from
1882 (by steam pioneer Professor R.H. Thurston on page 404), and
1901, (by the clearly brilliant C.H. Stromeyer, Chief Engineer for the Manchester England Steam System).
Reducing Boiler Steam Pressure
Surviving a Steam Release in a Confined Space
Removing Insulation from Live Steam Lines
Flooded Manholes and Submerged Steam Lines
Toilet Water Hammer – Just for Fun
Interesting
1951 short paper on extensive damage to 60 foot long 16" pipe built to conduct "Water-Hammer Experiments" with 30 psi steam by Detroit Edison Engineer and Superintendent for Steam Distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wayne Kirsner, PE has performed over 150 4-hour and 8-hour seminars on :”Understanding Water Hammer in Steam Systems” since December 1999. The popularity of these seminars can be judged by how many clients have requested repeat seminars over the years, For example, for Harvard’s steam maintenance crew and supervisors, Mr. Kirsner has done 6 complete 8-hour seminars with the first in 2009 and the most recent late 2022). These seminars are based on actual steam accidents he has investigated and the magazine articles he’s written about the most interesting of them. The aim of the seminar is to enable steam workers to understand and foresee what can happen when they open an isolation valve in a high pressure steam system. The steam accidents he has investigated are linked at “Accidents and Investigations” above, and the seminars are listed by client at the link “Steam Training”. His seminars show videos in glass models of actual water hammer incidents and usually contain two live demonstrations. Evaluations by attendees are linked on the training page.
Wayne Kirsner is a steam design engineer specializing in forensic engineering. He is a professional engineer. For the last 30 years, he has investigated suspected Water Hammer Accidents in Steam Systems. He also provides 8-hour seminars on understanding water hammer in steam systems for operators and engineers, especially Condensation–Induced Water Hammer. He has been hired many times to inspect steam system piping to ascertain if the piping arrangement is susceptible to water hammer. He assists Attorneys in lawsuits where steam accidents have caused harm to individuals. His reports on what caused these accidents have been decisive in settling these cases.
You can always give us a call at 770-953-8262 or you may contact us via email at kirsner@kirsner.org
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