Hydraulic Ram for Fuel-free Water Lifting By M. Umer Sohail

What is a Hydraulic Ram? The hydraulic ram pump may be defined as a self-acting device that uses the energy of a large volume of water falling from a higher location (relative to the ram) and passing through it, to lift a small volume to a location significantly higher than the ram and the source of water. It has only 2 moving parts.

Characteristics of a Hydraulic Ram Water-Lifting System (1) there is no other external energy input (e.g. human, animal, fossil fuel, etc.) that makes the ram work other than the energy of water passing through the pump; (2) its operation will continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week so long as the required volume of water continues to flow through it, (3) water has to come from a location higher than the ram;

Characteristics of a Hydraulic Ram Water-Lifting System (4) only a small portion of this water (around 25 % or less) is pumped up, the remainder passing out of the ram and must be drained to a lower location; (5) the vertical distance to which water can be pumped up from the ram is significantly higher than the vertical distance from its source to the ram – up to 30 meters delivery height per 1 meter of supply fall, although typically the most efficient is within a ratio of 10:1 or less, and;

Characteristics of a Hydraulic Ram Water-Lifting System (6) due to the ram’s small output per minute, there is a need for a storage device at the point of delivery to accumulate this output on a 24-hour basis, e.g. an earthen pond for irrigation or ferrocement, metal, or plastic tank for drinking water.

Parts of a Hydraulic Ram The ram pump is a very old technology, and for over two centuries many designs have been tried. Today, rams come in a variety of shapes and sizes, yet many of the incorporated modifications are mere variations of the same theme, and the basic design consist almost always of the following: ram body, impulse valve, delivery valve, air snifter, and air chamber.

Parts of a Hydraulic Ram Shown is Chinook MP-2 2-inch ram designed by the author Air chamber Delivery pipe stub Impulse valve Delivery valve Air snifter Body Drive pipe stub Feet

Parts of a Hydraulic Ram Different forms, same substance Delivery pipe stub Drive pipe stub Air chamber Delivery valve Impulse valve Air snifter Body Feet

TYPICAL COMPONENTS OF A HYDRAULIC RAM WATER-LIFTING SYSTEM Service area/Storage facility (not shown) Source (river, stream, spring) Supply pipe Delivery pipe Drive tank Lift (Delivery head) Drive pipe Hydraulic Ram pump Fall (Drive head)

COST OF A HYPOTHETICAL HYDRAULIC RAM SET UP with 2-INCH RAM Assuming data as shown Estimated output: = (Fall * Volume * 0.60)/Lift = (3 * 120 * 0.60)/20 = 10.8 liters/minute = 15,552 liters/day Delivery pipe 60 m Supply pipe 30 m Lift, 20 m Drive pipe 12 m Hydraulic Ram pump, 2 inches Fall, 3 m Source flow rate 120 liters/minute