Posted by Tony Conner on August 16, 2001 at 12:10:36:
In Reply to: Re: A report from the other end of the steam line. posted by Tony Conner on August 16, 2001 at 12:03:55:
I forgot to mention why the line hammered so badly when the valve was cracked open. Opening the valve admits a steam bubble into the water pocket just downstream of the valve. (It accumulated over the summer.) This bubble collapsed in the (realively) cold water, and the in-rushing water gives you the hammer. There have been cases of flanges being torn off valves in occurances like this. (There's a picture of one in the article that failed in the accident it discusses.)