Hydraulic Ram Pump
Hydraulic ram pumps are cyclic devices that use the power of water, known as hydropower, to move water to an elevation higher than its original source. The momentum of falling or moving water is all that is needed to run this hydraulic pump variety.
Quick links to Hydraulic Ram Pump Information
Industries Using Hydraulic Ram Pumps
Ram pumps are popular hydraulic pump varieties, particularly among other hydraulic water pumps. Hydraulic ram pumps can be utilized to transfer water in many different industries:
- Agricultural
- Waste Management
- Sewage
- Plumbing
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
Benefits and Drawbacks of Hydraulic Ram Pumps
Benefits
The use of hydropower rather than an external source of energy to run this particular type of pump makes them a popular option in developing countries, where access to the electricity and fuel that are used to power motorized pumps can be scarce.
The use of hydropower significantly cuts energy costs for industrial plants and factories.
With only two moving parts, installation is relatively easy in areas where water is free-flowing or falling.
The amount of water and the rate of falls have a significant impact on the success of the pump. A small amount of water that undergoes a significant fall can transport as much liquid through the delivery pump, as can a larger amount of water with a lesser fall. It is important to consider this when selecting both the water source and the location of a pump.
Other Considerations:
- Size
- Length
- Diameter
- Maximum Flow Rates
- Minimum Flow Rates
- Operating Speeds
Drawbacks
Only about 10% of the water used to run the pump reaches the intended endpoint.
Parts of Hydraulic Ram Pumps
- Components
- A Waste Valve
- A Delivery Valve
- An Inlet Drive Pipe
- Pressure Vessel
- Delivery Pipe
- Lengths
- The length of the pipes varies, though the length of the drive pump should be five to twelve times the vertical distance the water must travel.
- Materials
- Stainless Steel
- Copper
- Aluminum
- Pipe Manufacturing
- A process known as plate rolling is used to manufacture the pipes for hydraulic ram pumps. The valves are made of compatible metal components and often have rubber rings to allow for an airtight seal when closed.
Operations of Hydraulic Ram Pumps
The hydraulic ram pump follows a fairly simple order of operation, which repeats as needed to supply the necessary amount of water to the delivery pipe.
- The water first flows through the drive pipe, at the end of which is the waste valve. Initially, the waste valve is open.
- As water flows through the pipe by the force of gravity, it builds up speed and kinetic energy.
- This applies pressure to the waste valve, eventually closing it and creating a water hammer, or pressure surge resulting from the sudden stop.
- The force of this surge opens the delivery check valve, and the water flows through the pressure chamber and delivery pipe.
- The pressure in the pump then falls, the delivery valve closes, the waste valve reopens and the cycle repeats.
While the pressure chamber is not an essential component, it provides a more constant flow than pump systems that do not include the chamber.