KDK College of Engineering, Nagpur

Mechanical Department
Session 2020-21

Megaproject Topic : Design and Fabrication of Hydraulic Ram Pump

Guide : Presented by :
Prof A. N. Madne. Aadhesh Rokde
Akhil Bhagat
Himanshu Raut
Nikhil Ganeshkar
Navnath Kannake
Shreyas Naik
 Content
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Objective
• Liturature Review
• Working
• Block Diagram
• Application
• References
 Abstract
A hydraulic ram is a pump in which the momentum of a
driving stream of water undergoing a small head drop is used
to pump a small portion of the stream to a head considerably
greater than that of the supply. In the current study, a hydraulic
ram was designed, manufactured and tested
 Introduction

The hydraulic Ram pump[1] or hydram is a complete automatic device that uses the energy of the
flowing water such as spring, stream or river to pump part of the water to a height above that of the
source. With a continuous flow of water, a hydram operates continuously with no external energy
source.
A hydram is a structurally simple unit consisting of two moving parts. These are the impulse valve
(or waste valve) and the delivery (check) valve. The unit also includes 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 values. The closure of the waste valve creates a high pressure rise in the drive pipe. An
air chamber is required to transform the high intermittent pumped flows into a continuous stream of
flow. The air valves allow air into the hydram to replace the air absorbed by the water due to the high
pressure and mixing in the air chamber.
 Objective
The overall goal of this project is to help alleviate clean water problems . The
specific objectives of this project are to:
• design low cost hydraulic ram pumps based on available prototypes
• conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the product installation; and
• implement the proposed design in communities .
 Liturature Review
1) The Hydraulic Ram Pump has been around for quite some time now, the first device in the
modern era is reported to have been devised by an Englishman John Whitehurst in 1775. His design
was not automatic and was controlled by opening and closing a stopcock. Easier than carrying water
by hand but sure sounds like it was still a lot of work and very time consuming.
2) The first reported fully automatic hydraulic ram was developed by Joseph and Etienne
Montgolfier (of hot air balloon fame) in the late 1700’s (1793-1797). The original design performed
well on first start-up but suffered from a design flaw which caused a loss or “dissolving” of air in its
pressure chamber. This in turn caused an intensive banging in the entire mechanism. It was his son
Pierce Montgolfier that solved the problem by developing and designing-in the air or “snifter” valve
to reintroduce air into the chamber.
3) The FlemiFlemingng Hydro-Ram is an efficient, lightweight, dependable and inexpensive
hydraulic ram pump made possible by modern technology. It works on the same principles of
physics that enable its cumbersome predecessors to water the farmlands of Europe, the Mideast and
Asia over the past two hundred years.John Whitehurst is credited with inventing a non-self-acting
ram pump in England in 1772.
4) In 1809, the first American patent was issued to J. Cerneau and S.S. Hallet in New York. But it
wasn't until 1832 that information began spreading across the eastern states about the "simple pump
that pushes water uphill using energy from falling water." Prior to the 1840's most ram pumps in
were imported from Europe, but in 1843, H.H. Strawbridge of Louisiana claimed to be the first to
put an American made model into use. His first ram, built entirely of wood, exploded, prompting a
later model boasting "cross-bolts and rivets of iron." A cast iron ram soon followed.
5) A detailed book on the ram, published in 1842, was in its 16th edition by 1870. In 1879, The
People's Cyclopedia included the hydraulic ram among the 55 most important inventions in the
history of mankind. It defined the hydraulic ram as: "A simple and conveniently applied mechanism
by which the weight of falling water can be made available for raising a portion of itself to a
considerable height." Benson's ram was said to "raise twice the water than any force pump will,
with the same water power." It was described as "very simple and easy to keep in order." Patents on
the ram abounded in the 1840's and 1850's, but after 1858 none were secured until 1870 when
another burst of interest saw four patents awarded in 3 years. Though many used rams for individual
homes and farms, an 1852 advertisement for Birkinbine's Patent Improved Hydraulic Ram
proclaimed that the ram had pumped 20,000 gallons a day to the town of Naples, NY.
6) In 1844 John Latrobe imported a ram from England at a cost of $100 including 500 feet of pipe.
A.J. Downing in 1847 paid only $60.60 for an American made ram and several hundred feet of pipe.
Downing's ram itself cost only $12; larger models cost as much as $30. Repair costs ranged from $5
every 5 years for replacement valves on the English models to Birkinbine's claim of "repairs not over
25 cents a year." Ram pumps were allowed to rust in the stream until expensive parts, fossil fuel
shortages, and environmental concerns brought back to the public's mind the need for a pump that is
inexpensive, requires almost no repairs or maintenance, is self-acting, and which can raise water to a
considerable height vertically. The publicbegan searching for a ram it could readily afford, pick up
easily and move if necessary.
7) In 1980 Richard Fleming developed and began marketing the Fleming Hydro-Ram. Constructed
principally with off-the-shelf parts, it is lightweight, highly efficient, and designed to provide many
years of dependable service. Because of its affordability and effectiveness the Fleming Hydro-Ram
is operating successfully for hundreds of people throughout the United States and in many foreign
countries
8) Shuaibu Ndache MOHAMMED is studied that the design and fabrication of a Hydraulic Ram
Pump is undertaken. It is meant to lift water from a depth of 2m below the surface with no other
external energy source required.
9) Seemin Sheikh, C C Handa and A 8) P Ninawe is studied that The availability and cost of electric power is a
great concern to comman 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
conventionenergy. Water pump is a more utility item. Though the pump is inuse since long, it is not seen in
comman forms for lots of its performance limitations. The paper after study the literature available aim to
present generalised design methodology for hydraulic ram pump (HYDRAM) covering design parameters,
design procedure along with the mathematical relationship used for the design work.
10) Gaikwad.V.S, Gholap.M.V, Kadus.R.K,Gaikwad.M.S, Padekar.A.U, Mali.P.K is described that, This project
report is about designing a Recycled hydro electric power plant by using hydraulic ram pump to transfer tailrace
water from turbine to water source which is situated at higher height, which used as supply water for electricity
generation. This pump uses kinetic energy of flowing water for it’s working means it doesn’t require external
energy sources. The hydraulic ram pump is believed to be the suitable and efficient application for the given
conditions based on the calculations performed. For the first step of designing, all the related problems are listed
and understand. Then, the specifications, criteria and evaluation of the solutions are developed. This including
choosing the most suitable operational working principals for the hydraulic ram pump (hydram), turbine
generator, outline of the theoretical background behind the operation and its details calculations, which are
being referred to the concept and theory entitles to Fluid Mechanics.
11) udipto Shekhor Mondol is studied that, A hydraulic ram is a pump in which the momentum of a
driving stream of water undergoing a small head drop is used to pump a small portion of the stream
to a head considerably greater than that of the supply. In the current study, a hydraulic ram was
designed, manufactured and tested.
12) Rohan.D.Balgude, Swapnil.P.Rupanavar, Pradeep.S.Bagul. Asst Prof. Manoday.R.Ramteke
describes that techniques and guidelines to successfully install the modern hydraulic ram pump. The
proposed technique illustrates the methodology that can be used for the primary design
considerations and applications in various ways. This Hydraulic lram pump plays an important role
in areas which are not connected to national electricity grid, This method provides means of
continuous water supply. Basic principle of working is ramning action of air inside pressure vessel.
 Working
The hydraulic ram pump is works on the principle of “Water Hammer.”The system has a chamber with two flap
valves and an air vessel. This chamber is connected to the water supply from a supply tank or a water reservoir
at a small height. The supply tank and the pumping chamber are separated by a valve which controls the flow of
water.
When the inlet valve fitted on the supply line is opened, water starts flowing from the supply tank to the
pumping chamber. The chamber has two valves, “B” and “C.” Valve “B” is the waste valve and “C” is called
the delivery valve. The valve “C” is fitted to an air vessel. As water is flowing from the supply tank, the
chamber gets filled up and valve “B” starts to move upwards. A moment comes, when the valve “B” suddenly
closes. This sudden closure of valve “B” creates high pressure inside the chamber. This sudden increase in
pressure opens “C” which is the delivery valve. Thus the water from the chamber enters the air vessel and
compresses the air inside the vessel. The compressed air exerts a force on water which is inside the air vessel.
Thus a small quantity of water is raised to a greater height. As the water in the chamber looses momentum, the
waste valve “B” gradually opens in downward direction and flow of water from the supply tank starts flowing to
the chamber and the cycle will be repeated.
Block Diagram of Hydraulic Ram Pump
 Application
• .The hydraulic ram is sometimes used in remote areas, where there is both a source of low-head hydropower
 and a need for pumping water to a destination higher in elevation than the source.
• In this situation, the ram is often useful, since it requires no outside source of power other than the kinetic
energy of flowing water.

Advantages
•  No Electricity or External Power Source
• Continual Operation
• Easy to Maintain
• Long Life
• Reliable
 Planning of Project
This step will be covered

In 7th SEM -
Step 1: Finalization of Project
Step 2: Introduction and Abstract of Project
Step 3: Literature Survey
Step 4: Research Methodology
Step 5: Design of Project

In 8th SEM -
Step 1: Fabrication of work
Step 2: Publication of Paper on Project
Step 3: Thesis
Step 4: Report writting and binding of thesis
 References
• Shuaibu Ndache MOHAMMED, “Design and Construction of a Hydraulic Ram Pump”, Leonardo Electronic
Journal of Practices and Technologies, Issue 11, July-December 2007, p. 59-70.
• "New Patents: Pierre François Montgolfier," The Annals of Philosophy, 7 (41) : 405 (May 1816).
• Whitehurst, John (1775). "Account of a Machine for Raising Water, executed at Oulton, in Cheshire, in
1772". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. London: Royal Society. 65: 277–279.
doi:10.1098/rstl.1775.0026
• Executive Documents of the House of Representatives at the Second Session of the Twenty-first Congress …
, vol. 2 (Washington, D.C.: Duff Green, 1831), pages 328 and 332.
• “Hydraulic Ram Pumps”, Practical Action, United Kingdom, 2010.
• “Hydraulic Ram Pumps”, John Perkin, Green and Carter LTD.
• Green. Carter. (2002). Hydraulic ram leaflet. RetrieHydraulic
http://www.greenandcarter.com/main/rampumpleaflet.htm
• “NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN HYDRAULIC RAM PUMPING”, Hydraulic Ram Pump Research
Programme, Development Technology Unit School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Technical
Release 13, 1996.