Glossary - Wavespeed

The Wavespeed is a term used for the acoustic velocity of a sound wave in a fluid and that is also the speed at which surge waves move around a system. It is a function of the compressibility of the fluid (including the liquid and gases) and also the pipe construction. Typically it varies between 300 and 1400 m/s in the most common commercial projects.

The wavespeed is also an important parameter in surge analysis because the surge pressures are proportional to the velocity change and the wavespeed (amongst other factors).