water hammer
1
6.4
- noun
- /ˈwɔːtər ˈhæmər/
- Specialized
:
golpe de agua
- The plumber explained that the persistent water hammer noise was due to rapid valve closures in the plumbing system.
- water-hammer surge
Examples
-
The valve opens and closes slowly, taking from 15 to 30 seconds, depending on its size, to avoid liquid velocity shock or water hammer.
Academic text (2002) -
The device resists water hammer and corrosion and is designed for high-capacity applications, such as heat exchangers, reboilers, air heating coils, and other high-capacity equipment.
Academic text (2002) -
The air pressure provides the air cushion to prevent water hammer.
Academic text (1998) -
The station included smooth controllers to avoid pipe surges and water hammer.
Academic text (2003) -
For example, if the power shuts off and all the pumps shut down at one time, there would be a tremendous water hammer on the discharge pipeline.
Academic text (1998) -
According to Lynn Johnson, administrator for Las Vegas Paving Corp., the contractor for the construction of the Simmons Pumping Station, "We installed two systems in the pumping station; one was a surge control system that eliminates water hammer."
Academic text (1998) -
When the faucet was suddenly turned off, the sudden stop caused a loud water hammer in the pipes.
-
To prevent a water hammer, ensure that all valves are opened and closed slowly to avoid pressure surges.
Synonyms
12
2.8
A series of hard hits against something, often loud and strong
10
1.2
A sudden very loud noise often from an explosion or crash
8
5.5
A loud continuous noise that repeats and sounds forceful
How Severe
Surface Forms
Morphology
A learner who knows 'water' and 'hammer' can reasonably infer a pounding or banging associated with water (i.e., a knock or impact produced by moving water), so the general idea is deriveable from the constituents. However, the precise technical meaning — a pressure surge/knocking in pipes caused by suddenly closed valves — is specialized and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Water hammer comes from the loud bang in pipes that happens when flowing water stops suddenly and the force hits the pipe like a hammer. That's why 'water hammer' means the strong knocking noise you hear in plumbing when a valve closes too fast.