![]() ![]() Schedule 80 PVC pipe would be the better choice, with Schedule 40 PVC pipe being a secondary choice. If PVC pipe is used for the drive pipe installation, choose PVC piping with a thicker wall. Hydraulic ram pump installations using a PVC drive pipe will work well, but the elasticity of the pipe will allow some of the water hammer shock wave to dissipate slightly with pipe wall expansion. Most livestock producers use PVC pipe instead due to the lower cost and the difficulty in placing and assembling galvanized steel pipe. ![]() Since the pump efficiency depends on capturing as much of the water hammer shock wave as possible, the best drive pipe material for a hydraulic ram pump installation is galvanized steel pipe. The drive pipe size determines the actual pump size and also determines the maximum flow rate that may be expected from the pump. In its simplest form, a hydraulic ram pump installation includes a drive pipe to bring water from the water source to the pump, the hydraulic ram pump, and a delivery pipe to take water from the pump to the water trough or site where water is needed (figure 7). A typical hydraulic ram pump installation, with (a) drive pipe, (b) delivery pipe, and (c) hydraulic ram pump placement noted. Step-by-step illustrations are provided in figures 2-6 explaining how a hydraulic ram pump operates.įigure 7. The hydraulic ram employs two check valves, which are the only moving parts in the pump. This flow is produced by placing the hydraulic ram some distance below a water source and running the drive pipe from the water source to the pump. A longer pipe will also produce a larger shock wave for the same reason.Ī hydraulic ram relies on a non-pressurized flow of water in a pipe placed from the water source to the pump (called a “drive” pipe). A faster water flow will also produce a larger shock wave when a valve is closed, since more inertia or momentum is involved. The more quickly the valve is closed, the larger the shock wave produced. Closing a valve very rapidly will create a pressure surge or shock wave as the flowing water stops, which moves back up the pipe – much like a train stopping, with individual train cars hitting the coupling in front of them in rapid succession as the brakes are applied. Slowly closing a valve allows this inertia to dissipate over time, producing very little pressure increase in the pipe. A flow of water in a pipe also has inertia (or momentum) that resists sudden changes in velocity. Energy is required to place the object in motion, and energy will also be required to stop the motion, with more energy being required if the motion is started or stopped quickly. ![]() Any object in motion has an inertial force. Hydraulic ram pumps operate by utilizing pressure developed by a “water hammer” shock wave. These homemade pumps will last for several years if not longer and can allow a farmer to see how such a pump would work before investing in a more expensive commercial unit. A simple, homemade PVC (polyvinyl chloride) hydraulic ram pump (figure 1) may be constructed for $150 to $200 depending on material costs in your area and size of pump constructed. Hydraulic ram pumps can lift water over a considerable elevation, and do not require any external power source.Ĭommercially sold hydraulic ram pumps last for decades but are quite expensive. 1 Various companies in England and the United States have been producing cast-iron versions of the hydraulic ram since the early 1800s. The first development work of the hydraulic ram is reported to have been completed by John Whitehurst in 1772, with the first automatic version of the hydraulic ram developed by Joseph Montgolfier in 1796. One possible solution to providing livestock drinking water in remote locations is the hydraulic ram pump. Water flows from right to left during operation. A 3/4-inch homemade hydraulic ram pump made with PVC fittings.
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