Group Report Format by RCguarte

Introduction to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABEn 131)

1st Semester, AY 2018-2019

Reaction Paper on Operation of Hydraulic Ramp Pumps

Class Schedule: Date Submitted:
Group No.: Score:

I. The Hydraulic Ram Pump Technology

Many parts of the world are located in a place that does not allow water to flow to their
respective places by gravity, that is why there is a need to invent a technology that can lift
water from the source to their place, and there goes the idea of creating Hydraulic Ram
Pumps. In locations where power sources are limited, Hydraulic Ramp Pumps are adapted.
Hydraulic ramp pumps do not need any electricity, can work anytime the stream is flowing,
and do not need wind or sunshine to operate.
Hydraulic Ram Pump technology has been around since the late 1700’s. By 1772, John
Whitehurst invented a non-self-acting ram pump in England. Few years later, a Frenchman,
Joseph Michael Montgolfier, added a valve, which made the device self-acting, making the
ram pump almost a perpetual motion machine when water supplies were steady.
In 1832 the information about the "simple pump that pushes water uphill using energy
from falling water" began spreading across the eastern states. Americans were intrigued by
the pumps and Benson's Patent Water Ram was created. It could pump water from the
powering stream or spring up a hill or it could use that power to push another water supply
uphill. Interest in ram pumps continued throughout most of the 19th century. Articles in
magazines like the Farmer's Cabinet and American Farmer brought further recognition and
understanding of the ram and its possibilities. As the information about ramp pumps spread
throughout different parts of the world, patents
were issued in the United States and the French design and British patent were acquired by
Josiah Easton of London, England.

ABEn Form 2 Rev. 0 01 August 2018 Page 1 of 1

 Group Report Format by RCguarte

Since ramp pumps were invented, it became major movers of water to homes, farms,
industries, railroads and towns. It improves crop production, introduction of extensive
landscaping and gardening, and, perhaps most importantly, to health and sanitation.
II. Reaction

The water flows from the supply reservoir down to the drive pipe into the valve box,
initially the waste valve is open and allows water to flow through it and back into the stream
as the water flow increases, it causes the waste valve to quickly close. The closing of the
waste valve high pressure within the pump, also known as water hammer. This redirects
the water past the delivery valve and out the supply line to the storage tank or trough. The
water flow within the valve box rapidly slows, opening the waste valve and starting the
cycle again.
A ram pump uses the downhill flow of water to pump a portion of it uphill. It can pump
up to 25 percent of your supply water, depending on the drop and the lift. Ram pumps will
work on sites with 3 to 50 feet (0.9–15 m) of head (vertical drop) and can deliver to elevated
sites far from the pump and source. If the drive pipe is long, then there is a need for a strong
pressure, resulting to maximized supply of water.
As AB Engineers, they can help the farmers through introducing the ramp pumps,
especially for the irrigation of farms to the places that are away from water sources. Rice
fields that do not have a continuous water supply will have a solution. In our country, most
of the people don't have a safe water supply especially those who lives in mountain, in
sitios/barrios.

ABEn Form 2 Rev. 0 01 August 2018 Page 1 of 1

 Group Report Format by RCguarte

III. Life Long Learnings

The students learned the different parts of a ram pump, on how it works and to be
placed, its importance and uses, and its help to community specially to those places in
higher areas. The invention of ram pump serves as an inspiration for us future engineers to
strive hard. As a future engineer, the idea of ram pumps will help the students to innovate
or make these to the areas where water source is difficult. By this, it can contribute to the
eradication of one of the problems of some of the communities.
IV. References
http://www.theramcompany.com/history.html
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_041913.pdf
https://www.pseau.org/outils/ouvrages/acf_gravity_fed_system_in_rural_areas_6_hydraul
ic_ram_pump_systems_2009.pdf
V. Members
• Bacason, Shiela
• Bulado, Clark Raymund
• Cabiling, Ericka
• Calunsag, Paola Jade M.
• Gesulga, Jane Claire
• Mata, Nino Jan
• Nartea, Jake

ABEn Form 2 Rev. 0 01 August 2018 Page 1 of 1