1. Hydraulic Ram for Fuel-free Water LiftingBy
M. Umer Sohail

2. 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.

3. 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;

4. 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;

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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 liters/minute