Hydraulic Ram for Fuel-free Water Lifting

By

Roberto A. Alaban, Jr.Design|Fabrication|Installation

Technology transfer|Consultancy

Mobile:

0928 763 2788

E-mail:

redrichfrost@yahoo.com

Website:

http://ra-initiatives.tripod.com

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.

History

The hydraulic ram is a very old, and well-

proven, technology for lifting water.

In 1772, Englishman John Whitehurst

invented a manually-operated precursor

of the hydraulic ram called the "pulsation

engine." The first one he installed in 1775

raised water to a height of 16 ft. (4.9 m).

History

The first self-acting ram pump was invented by the Frenchman Joseph Michel Montgolfier in 1796 for raising water in his paper mill (Montgolfier is more popularly known for his work in hot-air balloons).

The sons of Montgolfier obtained an English patent

for an improved version in 1816 but this was acquired, together with Whitehurst's design, in 1820 by Josiah Easton, a Somerset-born engineer who had just moved to London.

History

Easton's firm, inherited by his son James grew during the nineteenth century to become one of the more important engineering manufacturers in the United Kingdom, with a large works at Erith, Kent. They specialised in water supply and sewerage systems world-wide, as well as land drainage projects. The Eastons had a good business supplying rams for water supply purposes to large country houses, and also to farms and village communities, and a number of their installations still survive up to this day.

History

In 1929 the company was acquired by Green & Carter, of Winchester, Hampshire, who were engaged in the manufacturing and installation of the well-known Vulcan and Vacher rams. Green & Carter now function from Ashbrittle, near Wellington, Somerset, U.K.

Ram Pumps in the 21st century

In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in hydraulic rams, particularly in developing countries, due to the continuing rise in fossil-fuel prices.

In India, Vietnam, and China their governments are very active in constructing hydraulic ram systems and in disseminating the technology to the countryside for irrigation and drinking water (a German group is leading the effort in Vietnam and China). In Africa (Zimbabwe), a British group has been active in this field since 1994.

Ram Pumps in the 21st century

Surprisingly, in the Philippines the ram pump is still a relatively unknown technology and has not been part of the government’s program for irrigation or potable water delivery. Even more surprising, many technically-trained individuals (engineers) have not heard about a ram pump and could not believe that water can be continuously pumped to a location much higher than its source by water inertia alone, by a pump that has only two moving parts!

Ram Pumps in the 21st century

Even in the country’s premier agricultural engineering school the hydraulic ram is taught mainly in theory and in passing, and one agricultural engineering professor has dismissed it for water-lifting work as inefficient because it can pump only a small portion of the total volume of water that passes through it (even though the fuel expense is totally zero).

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

Air chamber

Impulse valve

Body

Feet

Delivery pipe stub

Delivery valve

Drive pipe stub

Shown is Chinook MP-2 2-inch ram designed by the author

Air snifter

Parts of a Hydraulic Ram

Air chamber

Impulse valve

Body

Feet

Delivery pipe stub

Delivery valve

Drive pipe stub

Shown is a large-bore Chinese-made hydraulic ram pump

Air snifter

Parts of a Hydraulic Ram

Air chamber

Impulse valve

Body

Feet

Delivery pipe stub

Delivery valve

Drive pipe stub

Air snifter

Different forms, same substance

TYPICAL COMPONENTS OF A HYDRAULIC RAM WATER-LIFTING SYSTEM

Fall (Drive head)

Lift (Delivery head)

Supply pipe

Drive tank

Drive pipe

Hydraulic Ram pump

Delivery pipe

Source (river, stream, spring)

Service area/Storage facility (not shown)

COST OF A HYPOTHETICAL HYDRAULIC RAM SET UP with 2-INCH RAM

Assuming data as shown

Fall, 3 m

Lift, 20 m

Supply pipe 30 m

Drive pipe 12 m

Hydraulic Ram pump, 2 inches

Delivery pipe

60 m

Source flow rate 120 liters/minute

Estimated output:

= (Fall * Volume * 0.60)/Lift

= (3 * 120 * 0.60)/20

= 10.8 liters/minute

= 15,552 liters/day

COST OF A HYPOTHETICAL HYDRAULIC RAM SET UP with 2-INCH RAM

(Direct material costs, excluding labor and optional dam)

(Off-the-shelf) Supply pipe: 2-inch commercial grade HDPE pipe, 60 meters – P 1,500.00 Drive tank: 220-liter PVC drum – 900.00 Drain pipe: g.i. nipple 1” x 6” , sched. 40, 1 pc. -- 45.00 Gate valve 1” , 1 pc. – 125.00 Drive pipe: 2-inch g.i. pipe, schedule 40 , 2 lengths – 2,600.00 G.i. coupling, 2 inches, 1 pc. – 85.00 G.i. union, 2 inches, 1 pc. – 105.00 G.i. nipple, 2” x 6”, sched. 40, 2 pcs. – 140.00 PVC ball valve, 2 inches, with threaded ends – 280.00 G.i. union, 1 ¼”, 1 pc. -- 65.00 G.i. nipple, 1 ¼” x 4”, sched. 40, 1 pc. -- 55.00 Swing check valve, 1 ¼ ”, 1 pc. -- 215.00 Delivery pipe: 1 ¼” commercial grade HDPE pipe, 60 meters -- 750.00 Cement for drive tank and hydraulic ram base, 3 bags -- 600.00 Mixing sand -- 200.00 Miscellaneous -- 500.00

(Fabricated) 2-inch hydraulic ram pump – 12,000.00 Ram cradle – 800.00 ----------------------- Total P 20,965.00

LIST OF CLIENTS

 

1. El Nido Foundation, Palawan – May 2006

2. Nono Cabatac, El Nido, Palawan -- May 2006

3. Victorias City Eco-park -- July 2006

4. Felino Javier, Rosario, Batangas -- September 2006

5. Dr. Nolasco, Roxas City -- October 2006

6. Antonio Villanueva, South Cotabato -- October 2006

7. Rod Plopiño, Occ. Mindoro -- November 2006

8. Eric Payucong, La Union – November 2006

9. Dan Cabitac, Batanes -- November 2006

10. Gil Montilla, Ubay, Bohol -- December 2006

11. Christopher Agbayani, Puerto Princesa – December 2006

12. Reynaldo Rosales, Lipa, Batangas -- December 2006

13. Mike Yukor, Dumaguete -- January 2006

14. Betty Yap, Cebu City -- January 2007

15. Leyte Prov. Gov’t -- January 2007

16. Vince Emnas, Baybay, Leyte -- January 2007

 

11. Frank Colloquio, Guimaras -- February 2007

12. Bernardino Verano, Brooke’s Point, Palawan – February 2007

13. Jun Padilla, Manila – February 2007

14. Ramon Ko, Bacolod City – March 2007

15. Virgie Neo, Tanay, Rizal -- March 2007

16. Manolo Chua, Zambales – March 2007

17. Abelardo Dapat, Limay, Bataan -- March 2007

18. Juan Ochoa, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte – March 2007

19. Roy Castañeda, Camotes Island – March 2007

20. Leopoldo Avecilla, Alaminos, Laguna – March 2007

21. Atty. Jose Gangan, Ilagan, Isabela – March 2007

22. Ruby Ann Baetiong, Manila -- March 2007

23. Dr. Aristeo Tantoco, Rio Tuba, Palawan -- March 2007

24. Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. -- April 2007

25. George Bautista, Bamban, Tarlac -- April 2007

32 . Aurelia Rarang, Baguio City -- May 2007

Multiple-ram set up

Six 4-inch hydraulic rams with a combined output of more than 300,000 liters per day irrigate around 35 hectares of farmland in central Negros Occidental.