Water hammer

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marinesteam
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Re: Water hammer

Post by marinesteam »

swedtug wrote:the engine is fairly well insulated, I have even isolated the underside of the cylinders, so think not that I am getting condensation from there. but have had problems with priming in the boiler. in times when oil separation has been failing in the hotwell.
but that has not happened since I cleaned the boiler last time.

the needle on the pressure gauge behaves similarly when sound is heard as it is silent. It shows between 1.5-2.5 kg 20-36 psi of pressure .
improperly sized receiver is very possible, douse I have designed everything without any drawing.
Is the needle steady, or erratic? There should be pressure spikes if it is indeed a water hammer (hydraulic shock). You implied that this started when the gauge was installed in the wheelhouse. Is it possible that the line to the gauge is slapping against something or flexing the case of the gauge?

Ken
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swedtug
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Re: Water hammer

Post by swedtug »

the needle is not steady, its moveing, with pressure in the reciever,


and it sounds like the sound is coming from the pressure gauge.
I know that it is not so,but it is what it sounds like. I have observed the tube but nothing that seems to be lose.
DCSmith
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Re: Water hammer

Post by DCSmith »

Could you try a glycerin filled gauge? How fast does the needle move?
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barts
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Re: Water hammer

Post by barts »

The liquid-filled gages are much more rugged; I've switched to using them on Otter as I've had problems with the ordinary variety failing after several years of trailering.

- Bart
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Bart Smaalders http://smaalders.net/barts Lopez Island, WA
Oilking
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Re: Water hammer

Post by Oilking »

A few points:
1. If you disconnect the gage from the receiver does the sound go away?
2. If water hammer is the cause, in a dry gage without a snubber, the needle should be bouncing all over the plce with each "hammer" event.
3. Trouble shooting is not looking for what's wrong, but eliminating what is not.

Steam on

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Lopez Mike
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Re: Water hammer

Post by Lopez Mike »

Here! Here!
If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
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swedtug
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Re: Water hammer

Post by swedtug »

Thanks for all the answers and tips, I'm going to continue to trouble shoot , start with the timing of LP slide valve i Think.
I've noticed that the valve seems to leak.
Double Dutch
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Re: Water hammer

Post by Double Dutch »

I think your waterhammer has nothing to do with your engine, it might be produced in your impulse line.
I have heared it at a Dutch steam tug, also the the receiver gauge.
After draining the impulse line the sound was gone.
A loop in your impulse line near the receiver, to keep your line filled with condensate might help.
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swedtug
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Re: Water hammer

Post by swedtug »

Thank you Double dutch that sounds like a good solution. but the problem is almost gone since I adjusted and removed some shims at the exenter driving the LP valve. all the endplay made the valve a litle off in timing.

the gauges in the wheelhouse, with the LP gauge at the right
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johngriffiths
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Re: Water hammer

Post by johngriffiths »

Are the pipe to nipple joints silver soldered?

JohnG
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