Document / Project Reference
Surge Pressure
Joukowsky surge pressure · pipe wave celerity · liquid pipeline screening
Screening-level calculation — not a transient surge analysis
Company
Project
Doc. No.
Revision
Pipeline
Date
INPUT PARAMETERS
ParameterValueUnitNotes
  |  Hazem ElMancy — Surge Pressure
HomeCalculatorsSurge Pressure

PIPELINE TRANSIENT SCREENING

Surge Pressure

Liquid pipeline surge-pressure screening based on the supplied Excel workbook: Joukowsky pressure rise, elastic pipe wave celerity, pipe period and allowable pressure screening.

JoukowskyWylie & StreeterHTFS FM12Screening Tool
All Calculators
Input Parameters
Fluid Data
Workbook Table 1 values. Use Custom to enter project values.
Must be > 0
Used only when flow is entered at standard conditions.
Must be > 0
Must be > 0
Excel basis: 1 = actual, 2 = standard.
Pipe Geometry
Must be > 0
Must be > 0
Must be > 0
Thin-wall check is calculated automatically.
Pipe Material & Restraint
Workbook Table 2 values. Use Custom to enter project values.
Must be > 0
Must be between 0 and 0.5
Must be > 0
Use project pipe allowable stress / code basis. Screening only.
Workbook-calibrated factor: Ps = 2σt/(d + F·t). Default reproduces the supplied Excel example; set 0 for simple Barlow 2σt/d.
Enter surge-pressure inputs and click Calculate.

Workbook Basis

  • Mass flowrate from volumetric flow and liquid density. If standard flow is selected, actual flow is corrected by standard / operating density.
  • Fluid velocity from actual volumetric flow and pipe internal area.
  • Pipe wave celerity uses elastic liquid/pipe correction: c = sqrt((K/ρ)/(1 + (K/E)(d/t)B)).
  • Maximum instantaneous surge pressure rise uses Joukowsky relation: ΔP = ρcv.
  • Pipe period uses tc = 2L/c.
  • Allowable surge pressure is a screening hoop-stress check using Ps = 2σt/(d + F·t).

Restraint Factor B

  • Configuration 1: B = 1 − μ/2.
  • Configuration 2: B = 1 − μ².
  • Configuration 3: B = 1.0.

Limitations

  • Screening-level liquid surge estimate only. It does not model valve closure time, pump trip, column separation, vapor cavity collapse, terrain profile, branch reflection, relief devices, or transient damping.
  • Final surge design requires project-approved transient analysis software and verified pipeline/mechanical data.
  • Use absolute pressure consistently for operating pressure; surge pressure rise is differential.