CHAPTER II

THE ORETICAL BACKGROUND

The Ram Pump

The ram pump is a hydraulic machine that uses the pressure of a quantity of water

located at an elevation over the pump in order to deliver part of that water to a higher

elevation, without the use of electricity or fuel.

Figure 1. Ram Pump System Schematic

Advantages of a Ram Pump

The ram pump requires low maintenance. It only requires the replacement of small

components and making sure that pebbles, leaves and mud from the water intake does not

reach the valve. Moreover, the lifespan of a well-made ram pump can prolong largely, with a

little maintenance, for more than forty years (Calero and Alarcón, 2011). It is an economical

technology, as it will only need a one-time cost for building the system, except for its
maintenance that, as mentioned, is minimal. The system will continue to work despite

having temperature variations, as long as there is a flow of water. It can work under water as

a certain depth, provided that the pressure exerted on the pump will not make it stop working.

It has a high energy efficiency rate that, depending on the design of the pump, can vary

between 50% and 80%. The ramp pump is an eco-friendly technology, as it operates without

any external energy source, such as electricity or fuel. It can work by taking advantage of the

natural forces exerted by the environment.

Disadvantages of a Ram Pump

Only about 10% of the water flowing through the ram pump will be utilized. This

technology does not operate the same as centrifugal pump. It requires a flow rate and a

certain high difference to function effectively and efficiently. The durability of the materials

can also affect the system as natural calamity can damage some of the parts. Additionally, a

sudden change in the flow velocity can lead to a pressure surge that can damage the piping.

This pressure surge is the origin of the physics phenomenon known as “water hammer”,

which is the principle for the pump operation (Guerrero, 2014).

Water Hammer

The water hammer occurs when the pressure of a fluid in a pipe suddenly varies due to

the closing or opening of a valve. During the abrupt fluctuation of the pressure, the liquid

flows along the pipe at a speed known as propagation of shock wave. When the kinetic

energy that provides the water in motion is stopped, it causes a quick increase of pressure,

which causes elastic deformations in the liquid and in the walls of the pipe. This

phenomenon, in general, is considered undesirable, so security devices are often installed in

order to avoid this effect (Urbanowicz, 2017).

The calculation of overpressures is influenced by the valve's closing time. Both

theoretical analysis and practical observations indicate that the highest overpressure occurs when

the valve closes more slowly than the time it takes for the pressure wave to travel to the valve

and return.

This time is known as critical time, and it is reached by next equation:

L
tc=2 x Equation 1
c

where:

tc : Critical time (s)

L: Length of the drive pipe (m)

c : Velocity of sound in fluid (m/s)

Therefore, by taking the critical time into account, one can assess whether a valve's

closing is considered fast or slow. If the valve's closing time is shorter than the critical time, it is

classified as fast. In this scenario, the pressure wave does not have enough time to travel to its

origin, reflect, and return to the valve before the valve fully closes. Conversely, if the valve's

closing time exceeds the critical time, it is considered slow. In this case, the resulting maximum

pressure is lower, as the pressure wave returns to the valve before half of the cycle is complete,

thereby limiting the pressure buildup.

b. Value of Celerity
 The celerity (a) is the velocity of propagation of the pressure wave through the water

contained in the pipe, so its dimension equation is

c = [LT-1] Equation 2

where:

c = celerity

L = length (m)

T = time (s)

Its value is determined from the continuity equation and depends fundamentally on the

geometric and mechanical characteristics of the conduction, as well as the compressibility of the

water.

An expression that allows a fast evaluation of the celerity value when the fluid that

circulates is water was proposed by Lorenzo Allievi:

9900
a=

√ 48.3+ K x
D
e
Equation 3

where:

K = Coefficient function of the elasticity modulus (E) of the pipe material. Its units are

kg/m2. It mainly represents the effect of the inertia of the pump. It can be calculated as

follows:

10
10
K= Equation 4
E
 D : Inside diameter of the pipe (mm)

e : Thickness of the pipe (mm) it is also possible to obtain the celerity from tables.

c. The Water Hammer applied to Engineering

This phenomenon is not necessarily harmful in all situations. For example, water hammer is

the fundamental principle behind the operation of a ram pump. It generates an overpressure that

is later harnessed to transport fluid to a higher elevation. In ram pump design, the impulse or

waste valve is designed to close as rapidly as possible in order to produce a stronger

overpressure.

Structure

The structure of the ram pump is composed of two principal parts: the delivery valve and

waste valve, and the second part is the centerpiece. There is also an air or pressure chamber,

connected to an air valve, and two pipes joined to the set: the drive pipe and the delivery pipe.

The lower area, where the water arrives, is known as the ram. All these components can be seen

in Figure 2.
 Figure 2. Typical construction of a ram pump (Abate and Botrel (2002))

The air valve enables airflow into the pump body, allowing the replacement of air that

has been absorbed by the water during the cycle as a result of high pressure and turbulence

within the air chamber. The volume of water entering the ram pump depends on the pump's size.

Additionally, the pump size plays a key role in determining the relationship between the inflow

height and the outflow height of the water.

Operation

Understanding the operation of the ram pump is a big factor in create a design that yields

the best outcome. The operation is divided into four different steps. It is very important that, at

the beginning, both the waste valve and the delivery valve are in an open and a closed position

respectively. (Ndache, 2007)

Step 1

Water travels through the drive pipe and enters the body of the ram pump. At this stage,

the water begins to flow out through the waste valve (point 3 in Figure 3), which remains open

when the system is first activated. Meanwhile, the delivery valve (point 4 in Figure 3) is closed,

and there is no pressure in the tank, meaning no water is being pushed through the delivery pipe

to the final reservoir.

Step 2

As water enters the ram pump body through the drive pipe, it gains speed and

momentum. Eventually, the force of the moving water pushes the waste valve closed. When this

valve suddenly shuts, the momentum and weight of the flowing water come to an abrupt halt,

causing a pressure spike at the waste valve. This sudden surge in pressure forces some of the

water through the delivery valve (point 4 in Figure 4), which was initially closed, and into the air

chamber. In the air chamber, the air compresses and then expands to balance the pressure,

helping to push part of the water into the delivery pipe. At the same time, the pressure generated

by the closing of the waste valve drives the rest of the water back through the drive pipe at the

speed of sound.
 Figure 4. Ram pump operation step 2

Step 3

Following the reversal of some water through the drive pipe caused by the water hammer

effect, a subsequent "normal" pressure wave travels back down the drive pipe toward the waste

valve. Depending on the pressure at that moment, the delivery valve may remain slightly open,

allowing additional water to enter the air chamber (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Ram pump operation step 3

Step 4

When the “normal” pressure wave reaches the waste valve, a subsequent low-pressure

wave travels back up the drive pipe. This results in the valves being exposed to significantly
lower pressure than before, allowing the waste valve to open and the delivery valve to close

(Figure 6).

Figure 6. Ram pump operation step 4

Step 5

After step 4, a “normal” pressure wave travels down the drive pipe again, and the cycle

starts again (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Ram pump operation step 5

be considered that the slower the operation, the more water is used and pumped (Guerrero,

2014). Because of the cyclic opening and closing of both the delivery and the waste valve, the

operation of the pump is intermittent. However, the air chamber transforms the intermittent flow

into a quite steady one (Ndache, 2007).

Key Concepts

Drive Pipe

The drive pipe is a crucial component through which water flows from the source to the

pump. The length, diameter, and slope of the drive pipe impact the efficiency of the ram

pump. A longer drive pipe can allow more time for the water to gain kinetic energy, but too

much length can lead to energy losses.

Delivery Valve

The delivery valve is a one-way valve that allows water to flow in one direction only. It is

typically located at the outlet of the pump chamber. The delivery valve opens when the

pressure inside the pump chamber surpasses a certain threshold, allowing water to flow into

the delivery pipe.

Waste Valve

The waste valve is another one-way valve, usually located downstream of the delivery

valve. It is responsible for the sudden closure of the flow, creating the water hammer effect.
The waste valve opens and closes rapidly, causing the pressure surge that lifts a portion of

the water.

Air Chamber (Air Vessel)

Some ram pump designs include an air chamber, or air vessel, which helps regulate

pressure fluctuations within the system. The air chamber provides a cushion of air that

absorbs sudden pressure changes, contributing to the stability and efficiency of the ram

pump.