Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines

Volume 2 Issue 1

Design, Fabrication and Performance Testing of a Hydraulic Ram

Pump System
Mohammad Sultan Mahmud*, Arafater Rahman
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology,
Khulna, Bangladesh
*Corresponding Author
E-Mail Id: sultankuet01@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
In rural areas, especially at hilly areas people faces multiple problems of using conventional
energy. Unconventional energy is the satisfying solution of these problems. Hydraulic ram
pump is one kind of unconventional energy device. Hydraulic ram pump is a device, which
converts potential energy into kinetic energy and lifts up water from lower height to higher
height. Present work is based on construction of a hydraulic ram pump and test of its output
performance, according on different drive pipe length. When drive pipe length is 0.1m, its
volumetric discharge was obtained 1.7648×10-4 m3/sec, drive pipe discharge was 7.9384×10-
4 3
m /sec and efficiency was obtained 28.73%. At drive pipe length 0.35m, volumetric
discharge was obtained 4.66032×10-5 m3/sec, drive pipe discharge was 1.1232×10-4 m3/sec
and efficiency was obtained 46.32%. At drive pipe length 0.52m, volumetric discharge was
3.8602×10-5 m3/s, drive pipe discharge was 1.27×10-4 m3/sec and efficiency was 36.82%. A
different behaviour of water flow and discharge can be observed for the different length of
drive pipe and also more flow rate of water at discharge pipe. Hydraulic ram pump has a
great potential to be useful device for its simple and reliable pumping mechanism in such
type of hilly areas and remote places where are of no water supply coverage.

Keywords: Hydraulic ram pump, air chamber, drive pipe, volumetric discharge, efficiency

INTRODUCTION manpower or animal power, which has

Although the price of oil is decreasing
significantly due to COVID-19 epidemic,
it is to expect that in future energy costs
will tend to increase. Many farmers are
dependent on fuel or electrical power for
pumping water to their fields. An escape
from this dependency could be provided
by usage of self-powering water lifting
devices [1]. Also, in many parts of the
world, cultivated lands are situated above
natural streams. Getting adequate water for
drinking and irrigation in such habitats has
become the most important task for local
residents. Because of high electricity
transmission costs across long distances
and difficult transportation across complex
terrains, many people still have no easy
access to electric power or supply-water.
They have to get water with inefficient
largely hindered local economy and social
development. Therefore, efficient water-
lifting has become an urgent problem to be
solved [2].
A complete mechanical device, which is
used to lifts up water from lower height to
higher height without use of any external
power source called Ram Pump or
Hydraulic Ram Pump (Hydram). The
Hydraulic Ram Pump (Hydram) takes
energy from unconventional energy source
like river, canal, and stream etc. This
device mainly uses the kinetic energy of
the water flowing downward and lifts up
the water to a higher height than the
primary source. So, this is a water
pumping device that is powered by falling

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 Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines
water which works by using the energy of
water running down a drive pipe to the
body of the hydraulic ram pump. A
Hydram or impulse pump is an automatic
pumping device which doesn't use
electricity or any other power source [3]. It
works spontaneously with a continuous
supply of water. A simple Ram Pump
consists of an exhaust valve and a delivery
valve. These valves are movable and
obviously non-return valve. The ram unit
has an air vessel and an air valve. The
operating cycle of an automobile hydraulic
ram pump system may be idealized by
consideration of three distinct phases (a)
acceleration (b) pumping and (c) recoil [4].
The operation is said to be an
intermittent operation due to the cyclic
opening and closing of the impulse and
Fig. 1: Schematic Diagram of Hydraulic Ram Pump.
The first of this kind of pumps were force
pumps and that a pump used by the Greeks
in 300 B.C incorporated an air vessel as
the earliest known example. The use of
this device was discontinued in the
middle-ages and again revived in the
sixteenth century when a German
translation of the Greek work identifying
the pump was published. The most former
pump to be used was the hand pump. More
advanced pumps were the double cylinder
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Volume 2 Issue 1
delivery valves [5].
The closure of the impulse valve creates
a pressure rise in the drive pipe. An air
chamber is used as a medium to change
the high intermittent pumped flows into
an uninterrupted stream of flow. The air
valves in it allow air into the device to
replace the air immersed by the water due
to the high pressure and mixing in the air
chamber.
Pumps are one of the oldest machines
among of them. They were used in several
regions such as ancient Egypt, China,
India, Greece and Rome. Today,
pumps are the second most commonly
used industrial machine after the electric
motors [6].
force pump which also known to the
Romans are now preserved in the British
museum. But use of this pump was
evidently lost in recent century at the end
of the Roman Empire [3].
The aims of the present study are to
investigate the performance and
effectiveness of hydraulic ram pump
towards discharges and efficiency for
different drive pipe lengths.
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 Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines
Volume 2 Issue 1

Fig. 2: Components of the Hydraulic Ram Pump [7].

WORKING PRINCIPLE spontaneously and after a moment it will

When velocity of water flow is low against
waste valve, water can easily discharge
through it. But, when velocity is high then
drag force of water against waste valve is
too high, so that valve cannot work
be closed. But check valve or delivery
valve works inversely. When velocity of
water is high enough, then valve is open,
because it is a one way valve.

Fig. 3: Hydraulic Ram Pump Layout.

But when, velocity deceases, then valve
starts to close. At the starting of an
operation, water has low velocity but due
to constant gravitational acceleration,
velocity increases as time increases. After
a certain time, velocity of water will be
more than threshold value of waste valve,
and then waste valve may acts as closed
valve. Due to closure of waste valve, water
hammer blow is created, which applied
force on check valve. So, that check valve
will be open and water lift up into air
chamber and compress the air inside of
chamber. Due to compression, kinetic
energy of water converts to pressure
energy, this pressure energy try to push
back water but check valve is non-return
valve, so water back out by delivery pipe.
THEORY AND DESIGN ANALYSIS
Hydraulic ram pump is an automatic
device which generally uses gravitational

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 Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines
energy. It converts potential energy of
stored water into kinetic energy and lifts
the water to a required height, which is
more than initial storage height. Water
which will be at one hydraulic head flow
into a higher hydraulic head. It basically
uses water hammering effect in order to
develop the pressure.
There is a sudden stoppage of the flow
of water in a pipe which creates a very
high-pressure surge. Equation (1) shows
the total discharge of the fluid from the
drive pipe [3].
Due to the gravity affect the fluid flows
inside the pipe with a velocity which is
given by the equation (2).
The nature of flow (Laminar, transitional
or turbulent) is determined by using a
dimensionless number which is calculated
by using equation (3).
(3)
Equation (4) represents a mathematical
relationship given by Blasius to determine
frictional factor f with the use of
dimensionless number.
(4)
Darcy-Wersbach equation which is shown
in equation (5) used to evaluate the loss in
the head for fluid flow in pipes.
Head Loss ( ) (5)
Fluid which is present accelerates enough
to close the waste valve this is due to the
drag and the pressure in the water which
equals the waste valve weight. Equation
(6) represents the drag force.
( ) (6)
Equation (7) represents the force that
accelerates the fluid which is given by
( ) (7)
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The exit pressure which is much greater
than that of the inlet at a point is given by
the equation (8).
(8)
Equation (9) represents the power
developed by the hydraulic ram.
(9)
Equation (10) represents the hydraulic
pump efficiency.
(10)
As an important component of Hydraulic
Ram Pump, the drive pipe must have
ability to sustain at high pressure due to
the closing of the waste valve. To
determine the drive pipe length, the
empirical relationships are used as follow,
6H< L <12H (Europe & North America);
L = h + 0.3 (h/H) (Eytelwein);
L = 900 H / (n2 * D) (Russian);
L = 150 < L/ D< 1000 (Calvert);
Where, n is the Number of Beats/min, L is
drive pipe length, D is drive pipe diameter,
h is delivery head and H is supply head.
According to many researchers for better
guidelines, the Calvert’s equation is
suitable one [8].
For Air chamber, it is recommended that
the volume of the air chamber should be
around hundred times the volume of water
delivered per cycle. Experiments with
different sizes indicate that the air valve
size has negligible effect on an operation.
A small hole is sufficient, if it may be less
than one millimeter. The flow area through
the waste valve should equal to or exceed
the cross-sectional area of the drive pipe to
avoid "chocking" of the flow. For delivery
(Check) valve operation, it is
recommended that the water delivery
through this valve should be 1.45 cm2 of
area for every liter of water. With simple
weighted impulse valves, the supply head
should not exceed limit of four meters,
otherwise the valve will be closing very
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 Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines
Volume 2 Issue 1

rapidly and frequently, so no useful work We know, discharge through drive

will be achieved. In that case, the valve pipe, = × ×L
should be assisted by a spring to regulate
its closure. 3.1416
⁄ .
FABRICATION AND
PERFORMANCE TESTING By, volumetric discharge
A hydraulic ram pump was designed and
⁄
fabricated using PVC and fittings which is
locally, reliable and not expensive shown
in Figure 4-6. The performance test was So, Efficiency,
conducted in the fabricated test rig shown
in figure 4-6. The outcomes of the
performance test are as follow,
When drive pipe length, L = 0.1m
Then, speed of diaphragm, n =
94 ⁄
We know, discharge through drive
pipe, = × ×L
3.1416
⁄ .

By, volumetric discharge

⁄

So, Efficiency, Fig. 5: Hydraulic Ram Pump Construction

at Drive Pipe Length, L = 0.35 m.

When drive pipe length, L = 0.52m

Then, speed of diaphragm,
⁄
We know, discharge through drive
pipe, = × ×L
3.1416
⁄ .

By, volumetric discharge

⁄
Fig. 4: Hydraulic Ram Pump Construction
at Drive Pipe Length, L = 0.10 m.
So, Efficiency,
When drive pipe length, L = 0.35m
Then, speed of diaphragm,
⁄

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 Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines
Volume 2 Issue 1

Discharge slightly increases though it is

not up to the mark. From calculation it is
observed that, at L = 0.1m, no. of
revolution is ⁄ , in fact a
cycle completed in a very short time
(0.638sec). So, operation is too quickly,
the rate of discharge of water through
waste valve is increases but it has negative
impact on efficiency. Less pressure
Fig. 6: Hydraulic Ram Pump Construction introduce to air chamber, so less water lifts
at Drive Pipe Length, L = 0.52 m. up through delivery pipe, hence efficiency
of ramp pump is not up to the mark. While
Results and Discussion drive pipe length is increasing then its
From graph Drive pipe discharge vs drive output performance is increases, because
pipe length, it is observed that, for L = water takes much time than short length
0.1m, drive pipe discharge is, for decreasing through waste valve, so
good amount of water lifts up through the
⁄ When drive pipe
check valve in proportion with waste valve
decreases. But when drive pipe is too long
length increases to, L = 0.35m, then drive (L = 0.52m) then efficiency of ram pump
pipe discharge decreases to is decreases due to decreasing delivery
⁄ . From figure slope tends to discharge, though waste valve discharge is
better than previous (L = 0.35m)
downward direction. At length, L = observation.
0.52m. ⁄ .

0.001
Drive-pipe Discharge , (m3/sec)

0.0008

0.0006

0.0004

0.0002

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Drive pipe length (m)

Fig. 7: Effect of Drive Pipe Length on Discharge Water through Drive Pipe.

From graph, Volumetric discharge vs difference between drive pipe discharge

Drive pipe length, it is observed that, at L and volumetric discharge is least when
= 0.1m, but drive pipe length = 0. 35m, then efficiency
when length increases its discharge of ram pump is the highest than other two
decreases simultaneously. But the observations and cyclic time is quite good.

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 Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines
Volume 2 Issue 1

When length = 0.52m, its delivery pipe through waste valve and air chamber feels
discharge reaches at lowest value rather less pressure by upcoming air through
than other two observation, because of check valve and thereby efficiency of ram
cyclic time of ram pump is too long that pump is again decreasing.
means water takes long time to discharge

0.00025
Volumetric Discharge (m3/sec)

0.0002

0.00015

0.0001

0.00005

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Drive pipe length (m)

Fig. 8: Effect of Drive Pipe Length on Volumetric Discharge for Hydraulic Ram Pump.

From graph, Efficiency vs Drive pipe so, operation occurs too slowly .That’s
length, from calculation it is observed that, why efficiency affected by this length
at L = 0.1m, no. of revolution .But, at L = 0.35m, then cyclic time is
is ⁄ , in fact a cycle 1.5789sec, then volumetric discharge is
completed in a very short time (0.638sec). greater than first observation but drive
So, operation is too quickly, that effects on pipe discharge decreases greatly. So,
output performance, efficiency is too bad. efficiency of the ram pump increases to
Again, when drive pipe length is too large 46.32%, which is better than other two
(L = 0.52m), then cyclic time is 2.0683sec. observations.

60
50
Efficiency (%)

40
30
20
10
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Drive pipe length (m)

Fig. 9: Effect of Drive Pipe Length on Efficiency for Hydraulic Ram Pump.

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 Research and Reviews: Journal of Mechanics and Machines
CONCLUSION
From graphical analysis of different
performance parameters (Drive pipe
discharge, volumetric discharge, and
efficiency) along with drive pipe length, it
is observed that, hydraulic ram pump
performance is strongly dependent on
drive pipe length. For a satisfying output
performance, Drive pipe length must be
calculative.
So, it is recommended that, before
installation of a hydraulic ram pump, it is
need to concern about the appropriate
drive pump length for getting better output
performance. From above observation, it is
quite easy to reach a conclusion that ram
pump cyclic operation time should
between 1.5 to 2 sec.
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design and performance analysis of
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Mech E Part A: J Power and Energy.
2018, 1–15p.
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Volume 2 Issue 1
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