Hydraulic Ram for Fuel-free Water Lifting

1
Hydraulic Ram for
Fuel-free Water Lifting
By Roberto A. Alaban, Jr. DesignFabricationInsta
llation Technology transferConsultancy
Mobile [phone] E-mail redrichfrost_at_yahoo.c
om Website http//ra-initiatives.tripod.com
2
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.
3
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
4
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 101 or
less, and
5
Characteristics of a Hydraulic Ram Water-Lifting
System

• (6) due to the rams 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.

6
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).

7
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.

8
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.

9
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.

10
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.

11
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 governments 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!

12
Ram Pumps in the 21st century

• Even in the countrys 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).

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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.
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Parts of a Hydraulic Ram
Shown is Chinook MP-2 2-inch ram designed by the
author
Air chamber
Delivery pipe stub
Impulse valve
Delivery valve
Air snifter
Body
Drive pipe stub
Feet
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Parts of a Hydraulic Ram
Shown is a large-bore Chinese-made hydraulic ram
pump
Air chamber
Delivery pipe stub
Impulse valve
Delivery valve
Air snifter
Body
Drive pipe stub
Feet
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Parts of a Hydraulic Ram
Different forms, same substance
Delivery pipe stub
Drive pipe stub
Air chamber
Delivery valve
Impulse valve
Air snifter
Body
Feet
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TYPICAL COMPONENTS OF A HYDRAULIC RAM
WATER-LIFTING SYSTEM
Service area/Storage facility (not shown)
Source (river, stream, spring)
Supply pipe
Delivery pipe
Drive tank
Lift (Delivery head)
Drive pipe
Hydraulic Ram pump
Fall (Drive head)
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COST OF A HYPOTHETICAL HYDRAULIC RAM SET UP with
2-INCH RAM Assuming data as shown
Estimated output (Fall Volume 0.60)/Lift
(3 120 0.60)/20 10.8 liters/minute
15,552 liters/day
Delivery pipe 60 m
Supply pipe 30 m
Lift, 20 m
Drive pipe 12 m
Hydraulic Ram pump, 2 inches
Fall, 3 m
Source flow rate 120 liters/minute
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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
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LIST OF CLIENTS

•  
• El Nido Foundation, Palawan
  May 2006
• Nono Cabatac, El Nido, Palawan
  -- May 2006
• Victorias City Eco-park
  -- July 2006
• Felino Javier, Rosario, Batangas
  -- September 2006
• Dr. Nolasco, Roxas City
  -- October 2006
• Antonio Villanueva, South Cotabato
  -- October 2006
• Rod Plopiño, Occ. Mindoro
  -- November 2006
• Eric Payucong, La Union
  November 2006
• Dan Cabitac, Batanes
  -- November 2006
• 10. Gil Montilla, Ubay, Bohol
  -- December 2006
• Christopher Agbayani, Puerto Princesa
  December 2006
• Reynaldo Rosales, Lipa, Batangas
  -- December 2006
• Mike Yukor, Dumaguete
  -- January 2006
• Betty Yap, Cebu City
  -- January 2007
• Leyte Prov. Govt
  -- January 2007
• Vince Emnas, Baybay, Leyte
  -- January 2007
•  

• Frank Colloquio, Guimaras
  -- February 2007
• Bernardino Verano, Brookes Point, Palawan
  February 2007
• Jun Padilla, Manila
  February 2007
• Ramon Ko, Bacolod City
  March 2007
• Virgie Neo, Tanay, Rizal
  -- March 2007
• Manolo Chua, Zambales
  March 2007
• Abelardo Dapat, Limay, Bataan
  -- March 2007
• Juan Ochoa, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte
  March 2007
• Roy Castañeda, Camotes Island
  March 2007
• Leopoldo Avecilla, Alaminos, Laguna
  March 2007
• Atty. Jose Gangan, Ilagan, Isabela
  March 2007
• Ruby Ann Baetiong, Manila
  -- March 2007
• Dr. Aristeo Tantoco, Rio Tuba, Palawan
  -- March 2007
• Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. --
  April 2007
• George Bautista, Bamban, Tarlac
  -- April 2007
• 32 . Aurelia Rarang, Baguio City
  -- May 2007

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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.