How can water hammer be prevented in steam piping?

Preventing water hammer in steam piping is crucial for maintaining system integrity and operational efficiency. The correct choice focuses on avoiding bullheading tee fittings.

Bullheading occurs when steam and water do not have a sufficient flow path, which can lead to an accumulation of liquid at the tee fitting. When steam rushes past this point, it may create a vacuum that suddenly pulls the trapped water along with it. This can create a pressure surge, resulting in water hammer. By avoiding designs that utilize bullheading tee fittings, you can allow for proper drainage of condensate and minimize the chances of water collecting inappropriately within the piping system.

While the other options might seem viable at first glance, they do not effectively address the root cause of water hammer. Increasing water levels might exacerbate the problem by providing more liquid for potential hammering. Using higher steam pressure can further escalate the impact and damage caused by water hammer rather than preventing it. Minimizing pipe lengths may reduce the overall system volume but does not specifically eliminate the configurations that lead to water hammer. Therefore, focusing on the design and configuration, particularly avoiding bullheading, is the most straightforward and effective prevention strategy.