A knowledge of transient flow processes is becoming increasingly important for the reliable design and control of process engineering plant. Transient flow processes occur, of example, in long liquid-carrying pipes : on start-up and shut-down of plant, in emergency shut-downs and fast closure, i.e. when liquid is rapidly decelerated or accelerated. The consequence of such an event is a hammer effect, i.e. a short, often violent change of pressure placing considerable stress on structures. Such hammer effects are readily calculated by numerical methods in single phase media. Technical devices for prevention of inadmissibly high pressure surges can also be designed by means of simulation calculations. However, hammer effects also occur by sudden condensation of vapours. A number of systems in which condensation hammer effects can occur are considered at the end of this contribution. Two special damping measures are presented.