Determination of Hydraulic Ram Pump Performance: Experimental Results

John Paul M. Caringal, Mark Lester S. Cayabyab, Pamela A. Dumas, Alvin B. Faz,
Elmer Jader, Michael D. Lopez, Aaron Enrique M. Magsino,
Christine P. Sempino, Mary Jane L. Tumabaga

Mechanical Engineering Department, Batangas State University, Alangilan , Batangas City,

Batangas 4200, Philipines

ABSTRACT

The hydraulic ram water pumping system has ability to pump water using gravitational

energy or the kinetic energy through flowing source of water. This experimental study conducted

by the students aims to analyze and develop the improvised hydraulic ram pump in order to meet

the desired delivery head up to 5.75-meter height with less operation cost. The availability and

cost of electric power is a great concern to common man. Conventional energy is also a great

concern for environment. Hence more attention of designers is diverted towards use of

unconventional energy or other forms of energy than convention energy. The paper after study

the literature available aim to present generalized design methodology for hydraulic ram pump

(HYDRAM) covering design parameters, design procedure along with the mathematical

relationship used for the design work. For the result of the testing in terms of efficiency, the

theoretical value was 33% and can fill up 1.5L bottle up to 17.19s since some of the values was

assumed while for the actual performance evaluation the efficiency was approximately 7% and

can fill up the bottle within 95s. The students concluded that the comparison between the

efficiency of the theoretical and actual performance had a great difference which gave the

students an idea that having an actual performance was highly suggested in order to come up

with the great result of the testing

 I. INTRODUCTION

Increasing interest in the performance characteristics of hydraulic rams made clear that

there is a lack of consideration when it comes to design. Hydraulic Rump Pump also known as

hydram or impulse pump, have been around for so many decades and are considered as one of

the oldest machines developed. They were used in ancient Egypt, China, India, Greece and Rome

long before the general use of electric power and internal combustion engines were introduced.

Today, pumps are the second most commonly used kind of industrial equipment after the electric

motors. Hydraulic Rump Pump is a device that uses the water hammer effect from built up water

pressure. Using this water pressure that has been created by a water source above the pump, it is

able to lift water to an elevation higher than the pump. With a continuous flow of water, a

hydram operates continuously with no external energy source.

A hydram is a structurally simple unit consisting of only two moving parts which makes

it economical. It gives very high reliability, minimal maintenance requirements and a long

operation life. The two moving parts of the hydram are the impulse valve or known as waste

valve and the delivery (check) valve. The Ram was only used for small water supply with the

impulse valve being designed to act on a spring mechanism, while the delivery valve is a simple

clack valve. The unit also consists of an air chamber and an air valve. The operation of a hydram

is intermittent due to the cyclic opening and closing of the waste and delivery valves. The

closure of the waste valve creates a high pressure rise in the drive pipe. An air chamber is

required to perform the high intermittent pumped flows into a continuous stream of flow. The air

valves allow the air into the hydram to replace the air absorbed by the water due to the high

pressure and mixing in the air chamber.

 Basically, the system of the hydraulic ram pump consists of two basic parts which are

waste valve and the delivery valve as shown in Figure 1. The system also consists of an air

chamber and an air valve. Sequences processes of hydraulic ram pump are intermittent due to the

opening and closing behavior of the waste and delivery valves. The behavior of hydraulic ram

pump relies on water hammer phenomenon which represent on the closing and opening of the

waste and delivery valves. The process begins when water entering the derive pipe coming from

specific elevation height with high pressure. Therefore, the waste valve is closed by water

momentum. Thus, high pressure is created that will cause the delivery valve to open allowing

pressurized water to rise in vacuum air chamber. Therefore, the air chamber will pressurize the

water causing delivery valve to close and air valve will open allowing water to rise through

delivery pipe reaching the desired place.

Figure 1. Hydraulic water pumping system configuration

To apply the principles that was discussed above the students were improvised a

hydraulic ram pump with the customize specifications and design requirements.
II. PUMP PERFORMANCE

A Hydraulic ram pump is shown in Figure 1. The pump utilizes the energy from a

supply head, Hs with a large quantity of water, Qs to a delivery head, Hd which is higher

than the supply head with a small quantity of water, Qd by rapid closure of the waste valve.

The operation is continuous with no other external input and the flow is intermittent. The

power used to drive the pump is

The power added to the fluid is

The efficiency of the pump is defined as

where = head ratio = and

The students expected that the flow-rate ratio is high by reducing water loss at the waste

valve (Qw), and the head ratio is high by increasing the momentum of the water flow in the

supply pipe. For this purpose, the effect of waste valve opening and closing on pump

performance is investigated in order to reduce water loss at the waste valve and increase the

pumping pressure. A Hydraulic ram pump working cycle has been relegated to Appendix.
 III. EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Apparatus

The experiment was done in a Hydraulic Ram Pump test rig. The ram pump was made of

polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, fittings, ball valves, and brass swing check valves.

The ram pump is connected to a reservoir, which is situated 2 m above the ground,

through a 25 mm (1 inch) diameter drive pipe with a slope of 45˚. The total length of the drive

pipe is 3 meters as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Hydraulic Ram Pump Test Rig Configuration.

The pump used two brass swing check valves and two PVC ball valves. The first brass

swing check valve is used as a waste valve by mounting it in a reverse direction, where the

opening and closing of the valve is due to the weight of the valve disc. The other is used to direct

the flow of the water to the discharge hose whenever the pressure starts to build up in the

pressure chamber. Both swing check valves are 25 mm (1 inch) in size. Moreover, the two ball

valves, are used to regulate the flow of water into and out of the hydraulic ram pump and are
attached on both the drive line and delivery line. For the drive line, the ball valve used is 1-inch

and for the delivery line, a 3/4-inch ball valve is used.

For the pressure chamber, the material used is a PVC tube whose diameter and length are

50 mm (2 inches) and 300mm (12 inches), respectively. The discharge hose was 3/8 inches in

diameter.

The motion of the waste valve was determined by filming with a video recorder. The

number of the valve beats each minute was counted as 153. Likewise, the height of the water

thrown by the waste valve was measured and initially, it was 7 inches, while the average height

was recorded at 1-inch.

Procedure

The first step is to fill the reservoir with an appreciable amount of water. Filling up the

reservoir was continued even if the ram pump is already operational, to meet the volume

requirement. Consequently, the primary ball valve connected to the reservoir was opened. This is

to allow the water that has already passed the drive pipe to enter the main system. The water then

passed through the tee joint up to the waste valve. Since the pressure of the water from the

reservoir is greater than the capacity of the check valve, it was shut closed. The waste check

valve was then primed to allow the water to fill the pressure chamber. Once the rhythm of beats

becomes constant, the system is good to go. Additionally, the second ball valve was opened to

allow the flow of water to the discharge hose. Lastly, the time from which the water started to fill

the bottle until it was full was recorded.

Calculation Comparison between Actual and Theoretical Performance

Based on Theoretical Performance,

Find maximum and minimum values for the given value of DN using the Figure 1.

Maximum Flow Rate = 1.4 L/s

Minimum Flow Rate = 0.12 L/s

Figure 3

Solving for flow rate at suction,

For DN = 25.2 mm and DI = 26.64 mm,

Qs = Qave = water flow rate at the drive

Qs = 0.76 L/s

The discharge flow rate, Qd, from Table 1.0 is calculated from the best efficiency of 33%
 Qd = 0.08778 L/s

Therefore,

Qw = Q s – Qd

Qw = 0.76 L/s – 0.08778 L/s

Qw = 0.67222 L/s

For Rankine Efficiency,

For D’Aubuisson Efficiency

Based on Actual Performance,

Suction Flow Rate (Qs) = 0.6270627063 L/s

Discharge Flow Rate (Qd) = 0.01578947368 L/s

Qw = Q s – Qd

Qw = 0.6270627063 L/s – 0.01578947368 L/s

Qw = 0.6112732326L/s

Clicking time = 0.11 s

For Rankine Efficiency,

For D’Aubuisson Efficiency

Evaluation of Pump Performance: Theoretical versus Actual Discharge Flowrate

Through careful calculation and consideration in the presented hydraulic ram design, the

resulting theoretical discharge flow rate was 0.087234 L/s. With an assumed efficiency of 33%

since the pump was a homemade model. The storage vessel to be filled by the pump has a

maximum capacity of 1.5 liters. With this, the time before the vessel reaches its maximum

capacity is approximately 17.19 seconds.

After performing the actual operation, the results differed from the theoretical findings.

The actual time it took before the storage vessel reached its maximum capacity was 1 minute and

35 seconds or 95 seconds. In turn, the resulting actual discharge flow rate is equal to

0.01578947368 L/s. Having a considerable difference in values, the only variable that could

affect the theoretical discharge would be the pump efficiency.

The actual efficiency of the pump observed through the performance evaluation is approximately

7 percent. The Figure 4, shows the difference between theoretical and actual values, determined

through performance testing.

Theoretical versus Actual

0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Theoretical Actual

Discharge Flowrate (L/s) Pump Efficiency (%/100)

Figure 4. Difference between theoretical and actual values determined through performance

testing
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The experiment or the performance testing has been done inside the area with limited

source of water wherein it happens at the right side of the CEAFA Building which is different

from the running source (river, pond etc.). There are several factors were considered in the

experiment which are the height of supply head, the pressure chamber diameter is a critical point

to increase the water pressure. The smaller pressure chamber, the greater water pressure. In

addition, supply head plays an essential role in hydraulic ram pump system. If the supply head is

increased, the water pressure will be increased. Another important factor is the quantity of

available source. The more water quantity, the more pressurized water will be. In the pre

experiment attempts, water has been failed to get the target delivery head due to small amount of

water source. While in the actual and final experiment, water could reach the target delivery head

due to the enough amount of water source.

Unfortunately, there were some undesired issues during the experiment which can cause

other people not to use the hydraulic ram pump design if these issues are not solved. One of

these issues is the large amount of the waste water through the waste valve. The tank of supply

source that the students use could contain 20 Liters but the outlet net volume is less than 1.5

liters. So, about 10 liters are wasted. Which means the hydraulic ram pump is more suitable for

running source place rather than stable and limited amount of source. This problem also can be

solved by putting a system can collect and return the wasted water to the tank. In addition,

another problem occurs for the hydraulic ram pump has been observed during the experiment is

the high noise resulted from the waste valve behavior by open and close. This action caused by

the waste valve creates high noise which actually is unwanted by the user.
 With the design parameters for the hydraulic ram pump like drive pipe diameter from

drive pipe length, flow discharge in drive pipe, total head losses in the system, pressure at waste

valve and power developed by the hydram. The students have calculated the efficiency of the

hydraulic ram pump and the suitable design of the hydraulic ram pump is produced. The result

will be compare with experimental model.

For the result of the testing in terms of efficiency, the theoretical value was 33% and can

fill up 1.5L bottle up to 17.19s since some of the values was assumed while for the actual

performance evaluation the efficiency was approximately 7% and can fill up the bottle within

95s. The students concluded that the comparison between the efficiency of the theoretical and

actual performance had a great difference which gave the students an idea that having an actual

performance was highly suggested in order to come up with the great result of the testing.
V. APPENDIX

The working cycle of the Hydraulic Ram Pump is as follows.

G WASTING
Figure 5.

The working process starts by filling up the reservoir, located at specific elevation or fall,

with water. This water then enters the delivery pipe with high flow rate. A simple primary ball

valve connected to the reservoir is opened for the water from the delivery pipe to enter the main

system. Water will pass through the T-joint and then flows out around the disc of the waste or

check valve. This phase is called the wasting period since water is wasted as it flows out the

valve disc.

Figure 6.
 Since the pressure of water from the reservoir is greater than the capacity of the waste

valve, check valve will shut closed. The waste check valve will be primed to allow water to fill

the pressure chamber. The sign that the system is ready to operate is when the rhythm of beats is

already constant. This phase is called the priming period.

Figure 7.

To allow the water to flow through the discharge hose, the ball valve at the discharge line

is fully opened. As the pressure chamber is partly filled with both air and water, water continues

to flow in the delivery tank or bottle against the existing pressure with decreasing velocity. This

is the pumping period. When the water starts to fill the delivery tank or bottle time must be

measured until it full.

ESTIMATED COST

Quantity Articles Amount

2 Elbow 45° 45
1 Elbow 90° 17
1 Vulca Seal 48
2 Swing Check Valve 1000
1 Ball Valve ¾“ 50
1 Ball Valve 1“ 90
1 Tee Joint ¾“ with thread 18
1 Tee Joint 1” 29
1 Tee Joint Reducer 1 X ¾ 58
1 Reducer Socket ¾ X ½ 9
8 Male Coupling 1” 136
3 Male Coupling ¾” 33
1 Union 1” with thread 58
3 Teflon 45
1 PVC Cement 50
1 Brush 74
1 GI Bushing 33
1 PVC Pipe 3” 100
1 Clean Out 3” 45
1 PVC Bush 3 X 20 25
1 PVC Pipe 1” 65
1 PVC Pipe ¾” 50
1 PVC Socket 1.5” X 1” 94
1 Sand Paper 13
2 PVC Coupling 3” 70
¼ kilo Nail 18
1 Hose 100
1 Pressure Gauge 150
1 PVC hose coupling 25
TOTAL ₱ 2548.00
Table 1. Estimated Cost of the Improvised Hydraulic Ram Pump
VI. REFERENCES

A. Pathak, S. Khune, A. Deo, S. Mehroliya, and Ms. M. Pawar, “Design of Hydraulic

Ram Pump,” International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology,

vol. 2, 2016.

B. W. Young, “Design of hydraulic ram pump systems,” in Proceedings of the Institution

of Mechanical Engineers, Part A, vol. 209, pp. 313–322, l995.

B. W. Young, “Simplified Analysis and Design of the Hydraulic Ram Pump,” in

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A, vol. 210, pp. 295-303,

l996.

P. Nambiar, A. Shetty, A. Thatte, S. Lonkar, and V. Jokhi, “Hydraulic Ram Pump:

Maximing Effeiciency,” International Conference on Technologies for Sustainable

Development, 2015.

S. Sheikh, “Design Methodology for Hydraulic Ram Pump (HYDRAM),” Journal of

Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, vol. 2, no. 4, 2013.

X. Guo, J. Li, K. Yang, H. Fu, T. Wang, Y. Guo, Q. Xia, and W. Huang, “Optimal

Design and Performance Analysis of Hydraulic Ram Pump System,” in Proceedings of

the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, vol. 232,

pp. 841-855, 2018.