Hydraulic Ram Research Articles

Development of Hydraulic Ram Pump for Agriculture Uses and Approach A Review

Abstract: This report focuses on Hydraulic Ramp Pumps that have been used worldwide for over two centuries in many areas. The project idea is to build a pump known as Hydraulic Ram Pump [HRP] that gets the water higher level, Kinetic Energy at the inlet, and converted it into pressure energy. This is commercially successful because of its simplicity and reliability. The hydraulic ram pump (hydram) is a viable and appropriate renewable energy water pumping technique developed in many countries, our project team can get the idea to design and manufacture a more efficient and long time durable Hydraulic Ram Pump so that it can solve major problems by providing adequate domestic water supply to Rural Populations and Agricultural Land, it is difficult to the water served by a conventional pipe system.

Uji Pengaruh Beban Klep Buang Serta Ketinggian Input Dan Output Terhadap Efisiensi Pompa Hidram

Water is a natural material that is very important for humans, animals and plants. Apart from being used as consumption, water can also be used as an energy source, with the need for water use which is very important for humans, it needs to be supported by an increase in water supply. Water supply usually uses a pump that functions to raise water from a lower place to a higher place. However, there are still many people who still have difficulty meeting their water needs due to the weak purchasing power of the people to buy pumps, especially in rural areas. Therefore, it is necessary to design a hydraulic ram pump which is one solution to overcome this problem because it is cheap and simple to manufacture and maintain. A hydraulic ram pump is a pump that can raise water from a low place to a higher place using energy that comes from the water flow itself. To find out the performance of the hydraulic ram pump, a pump efficiency test was carried out with the treatment of different heights of water flow sources, different heights of water lifted and different exhaust valve loads. The results of efficiency testing are obtained that the higher the water flow source the greater the efficiency, the lower the water lift the greater the efficiency and the lightest load on the exhaust valve has the greatest efficiency. Keywords: water, pump, hydraulic ram pump, efficiency

Acoustic emission detection of micro-cracks under high pressure and high temperature in a deformation large-volume apparatus at the endstation P61B, PETRA III.

We successfully developed an in situ acoustic emission (AE) detection setup that allows recording of AE waveforms (triggered and streaming) and simultaneous x-ray diffraction and imaging on samples deformed at high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions in the Aster-15 Large Volume Press at the synchrotron beamline station P61B. This high pressure AE detection system is a powerful tool to investigate AE phenomena from the HPHT chamber. Six commercial acoustic sensors, protected by a tungsten carbide support ring on each anvil of the same material, have excellent survivability throughout each successive experiment. By pulsing each sensor in succession, the average wave velocity through the anvils and cell assembly can be determined at any press load. The distance between the sensors is obtained by x-ray radiography and by logging the positions of each hydraulic ram. This provides a basis for accurately locating AE events in the sample. The feasibility of this AE detection setup was confirmed by compression and deformation test runs using several different self-designed AE sources in specialized assemblies. The present setup proves to be extremely efficient and accurate in measuring brittle processes in samples under HPHT. It is now available for applications for beam time and experiments without x rays at P61B. Combined with synchrotron x rays, in situ pressure, temperature, strain rate and stress, and phase changes can be monitored while recording AE activity. We provide a powerful tool to investigate the origin of earthquakes, for example, causing AE emissions due to brittle dehydration reactions or phase transformations in the Earth.

Performance evaluation of hydraulic ram pumping systems for small-scale farmers: a case study of West Pokot county, Kenya

Abstract Hydraulic ram (hydram) pump has been in existence for more than two centuries. However, these pumps have been on the verge of extinction since the invention of motorized pumps, which are more powerful and efficient. Unfortunately, motorized pumps are expensive to acquire, operate, and maintain. Their contribution to climate change and environmental degradation has steered the need for an alternative pumping technology. Therefore, as the world's technology shifts to green energy, hydram pumps need to be re-invented. In the late twentieth century, studies on hydram pumps have been revived with the aim of making them more efficient and economically competitive. Small-scale farmers in West Pokot County, Kenya, have embraced the hydram technology, but due to low technical capacity; installed low-performing hydram that operated under low efficiencies of less than 30%, with the majority having operational failure due to inadequate designs. Hence, this study investigated the design and operation of these pumps. Thereafter, designed and assembled a hydram pump, using locally available materials, to supply water for domestic and small-scale agricultural use. The optimum efficiency achieved by the pump was 54%, with an optimum delivery flow rate of about 13 L/min.

Comparison of a single and two-armed hydraulic ram in parallel with vertical-radial supply pipe

Mediante datos experimentales se analiza y compara el comportamiento de uno y dos arietes hidráulicos en paralelo, con y sin bajante (adición a la conducción de entrega), y suministro descendente vertical-radial. El estudio se hizo en un circuito hidráulico configurable para que esos dispositivos operen de una u otra forma a altura de entrega constante y altura de suministro variable. Con cada altura de suministro se midieron los caudales suministrados y bombeados por los arietes hidráulicos, y la presión en la tubería de impulsión, cerca de cada ariete, en la cámara de aire y en la tubería de entrega. Esta información permitió comparar por primera vez el desempeño de arietes hidráulicos funcionando solos o en paralelo mediante el análisis de caudales, presiones, frecuencia del golpe y eficiencia de los dispositivos. Como las bombas radiales, los resultados indican que dos arietes hidráulicos en paralelo entregan más que uno, pero menos que la suma del caudal bombeado por cada uno con descarga independiente. En el rango de alturas de suministro ensayado la frecuencia del golpe de ariete y el caudal bombeado crecen con la altura de suministro, como se reporta en otros estudios. No obstante, el resultado más destacado es el efecto del bajante porque incrementa varias veces el caudal bombeado, al aumentar la frecuencia del golpe de ariete. Esta investigación impulsa el desarrollo de un sistema de múltiples arietes hidráulicos con suministro común y descargas en paralelo o individuales, para bombear más que con los diseños actuales.

An automated microfluidic system with one-dimensional beads array for multiplexed torch detection at point-of-care testing.

An automated microfluidic system with functionalized beads has been developed for multiplexed TORCH detection at point-of-care testing. A concise microfluidic chip consisting of a one-dimensional beads array is developed to simultaneously detect TOX, RUB, CMV, HSV-I and HSV-II respectively with five functionalized beads. A compact liquid handling module has been developed to automate the sandwiched chemiluminescence immunoassay within the one-dimensional beads array of the microfluidic chip. A precise ram pump is adopted to not only add reagent into the microfluidic chip from outside, but also facilitate elaborate fluid control inside the microfluidic chip for improved performance. A large-size waste chamber with a liquid-absorbing sponge holds the waste reagent within the microfluidic chip to prevent backflow. The one-dimensional beads array is heated from double-sides at 37 ℃ for sensitive detection with reduced time. A sensitive CMOS camera is adopted to take chemiluminescence image from the one-dimensional beads array, and a custom processing algorithm is adopted to analyze the image. For each serum sample, five different infections can be simultaneously detected with the automated microfluidic system. Experimental results show that efficient, sensitive, and accurate multiplexed TORCH detection can be conveniently achieved with the integrated microfluidic system.

Determining Hydraulic Ram Pump Feasibility

Hydraulic ram pumps have been used for over 200 years to pump water using only the potential energy of elevated water. Today, the low price and simplicity of the materials and methods required to construct ram pumps make them an excellent option for small and mid-sized water systems in developing countries where elevated water is available. However, ram pumps are risky to implement because they will fail to deliver water if they are not designed correctly. Evaluating pump designs requires complex computer modeling typically unavailable in developing countries. Existing design documents for users without a specialization in fluid mechanics use vague rules of thumb to simplify the design process. Unfortunately, these rules cannot reliably predict whether or not a ram pump will deliver water in many cases. Recent research has focused on developing pump efficiency equations from non-dimensional analyses of experimental data, developing guidelines to optimize designs, and modeling ram pump function with numerical methods. Currently, the literature has not provided the typical designer with accurate and accessible methods for predicting the maximum delivery head or the delivery flowrate of a specific design. This study models the acceleration of fluid in the drive pipe and the intensity of the pressure spike to determine the feasibility of a wide variety of ram pump designs with a higher degree of certainty than previous rules of thumb. The model can be used in a Matlab program that determines if a design will function based on design parameters input by the user. The Matlab method was used along with conservative assumptions to predict the minimum design characteristics required for several common scenarios for easy reference. This work will allow a wider proliferation of hydraulic ram pumps through more accurate design tools, and reduce the cost of water systems for small developing communities.

Conversion of Thermally Amplified Hydraulic Shock for Power Generation: Modeling and Experimental Analyses

Abstract Hydraulic shock, also colloquially known as hydram, or hydraulic ram pump, or water hammer, or fluid hammer is a high-pressure shock wave that propagates at the speed of sound through a piping system when a fluid in motion is forced to change direction or stop abruptly. This destructive force can be converted into useful work, i.e., to pump the water to higher elevation, thereby increasing its potential energy, i.e., lifts the water using the high-pressure shockwave. Its low performance combined with affordability of fuels has put this otherwise longstanding technology in the backburner of science and research for a long time, yielding to electric or fuel powered pumps. However, growing concerns about the impacts of fossil fuel use on the environment as well as the rising price of electricity has generated a renewed interest in such technology. The ram pump’s operation in remote areas where the power grid is not available adds research value to the technology. In this paper, a novel approach, i.e., adding thermal energy to the flow to assist the water hammer pressure was modeled. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ansys. The results were validated experimentally in a 32 mm (27 mm internal diameter) drive pipe and a supply head of 2.18 m ram pump. The exhaust pressure can also be used to produce power using a hydraulic turbine, hence our claim of multi-purpose application as a theme of this project. The results between simulation and experiment were consistent, with only 6.99% error for pressure, and 10.16% for flowrate. The results show that pressure increased from 183.33 kPa to 342.32 kPa when thermally assisted to reach 106.75 °C. The experimental discharge flow increased from 11.72 l/min to 16.41 l/min for the corresponding temperature, a 42.01% increase. The system in power mode produced 91.28 W and 35.81 W with and without thermal infusion, respectively. The Rankine efficiency of thermally assisted hydraulic ram for combined application was above 10% whereas with power generation only, the efficiency was 1.4% at a net delivery head of 5 m for both scenarios. It was observed that in general, the efficiency increases proportionally with delivery flow.

Axial Performance of Cementitious Grouted Cable Bolts Under Rotation Constraint Scenarios

With the increased use of cable bolts in mining and civil projects worldwide, it is important to understanding the performance of these support structures in different scenarios. The axial load transfer mechanisms of six cable bolts were investigated experimentally in this research study. A large-scale pull-out testing apparatus with a capacity of 1000 kN was designed and manufactured as part of the investigation. A common commercial cementitious grout with a uniaxial compressive strength of 60 MPa was used to encapsulate 300 mm length samples. Passive confinement encapsulated each sample to ensure the concrete’s integrity during the testing. The encapsulated cable bolts were then subjected to axial loads using a hydraulic ram, with the axial load and displacement measured using a load cell and LVDTs. Two scenarios were investigated: free rotation and restricted rotation. The results demonstrated that the apparatus effectively recorded the behaviour of the cable during pull-out and identified that the radial stiffness of the samples had a significant impact on the overall load of the system. The results also indicated that rotation had a limited influence on the load behaviour of the samples tested.

A feasibility study of operating a low static pressure head micro pelton turbine based on water hammer phenomenon

Small hydropower has received a great interest in recent years as a source of renewable energy with low investment costs for providing electricity worldwide. Small hydropower does not require construction of large dams compared to the large hydropower stations. The aim of the present study is to provide: (1) detailed performance measurements on a micro Pelton turbine model, (2) detailed measurements on a modified small scale ram pump system based on the principle of water hammer phenomenon, and (3) propose a new hydraulic system to operate the micro Pelton turbine model at the best efficiency point, but at a very low static pressure head of water. A simplified mathematical model was developed and its results were satisfactory and in line with the theory of the Pelton turbine, verifying similarity and repeatability of the model for estimating the turbine performance. The operating conditions (net head and flowrate) of the experimental 10W micro Pelton turbine model with a single nozzle are 20 m of water and 33.01 l/min. Integrating the proposed hydraulic system with the base Pelton turbine model shows that the best efficiency point is reached at a total flow rate of 33 l/min and at only 2.5 m pressure head.

Results of the study of the hydraulic ram technology of water lifting from watercourses

This paper is aimed at studying the hydraulic ram (hydram) technology of water lifting from watercourses for water supply of pastures and irrigation of agricultural land with improving the technological parameters of a hydram pump – increasing energy indicators: hydraulic shock pressure, supply, head, and efficiency, and increasing the reliability of its operation, creating convenience and ease of maintenance. The improved design and technological scheme of a hydram pump unit is substantiated, which has originality and is protected by the patent for the invention KZ No. 34,027, the patent holder is the non-profit joint-stock company “Kazakh National Agrarian University” (NJSC KazNAU). Formulas for substantiating the technological and technical parameters of a hydram pump are proposed, the reliability of which is confirmed experimentally. The purpose of the study is to develop an alternative technology for lifting water from watercourses using a hydraulic ram pump, to substantiate the main technological and technical parameters with improved indicators compared to analogues – increasing hydraulic shock pressure, supply, head, efficiency and improving the reliability of operation, creating convenience and ease of maintenance. The following research methods were used in the study: patent with an operability review, theoretical and experimental approaches. As a result, the obtained theoretical formulas were experimentally confirmed. Based on the results of patent research, operability review, and own research at NJSC KazNAU, an improved design and technological scheme of a hydram pump has been developed. The design and technological scheme of an improved hydram pump unit is given. Based on a comparative analysis of the characteristics of the new hydram pump and its analogue, a clear advantage of the new pumping unit has been established.

Mathematical model of hydraulic ram pump system

The hydraulic ram pump is water-powered machinery using low-head hydroenergy. An overall mathematical model is presented to consider the dynamic behavior of the waste and delivery valves. Model experiments, numerical simulations, and references analysis are combined to investigate the characteristics of pressure and water level fluctuations, the motion of the waste and delivery valves, as well as corresponding performance optimizations. The mathematical model can well represent the pressure and water level characteristics of the hydraulic ram pump, as well as the motion of the waste and delivery valves. The numerical results are in good agreement with the measured peak value, trough value, waveform, and period. The opening and closing of the waste valve are found to meet the power-function of time with the power exponents 1.5 and 0.2, respectively, while the delivery valve can experience multiple opening-closing processes for low lift cases. The partial water volume in the air chamber flows back into the pump body during the closure of the delivery valve, resulting in the degradation of the delivery flow. The delivery valve of perforated structure is a priority for the high lift case due to reducing backflow, while that of lift-check-valve structure is advised for other cases because of the small local head loss coefficient.

TRANSFER PENGETAHUAN TEKNOLOGI POMPA HIDRAM (NON LISTRIK & BBM) DI DESA LALOUESAMBA KABUPATEN KONAWE SELATAN

Lalouesamba Village is one of the youngest villages in the South Konawe Regency, with a non-coastal slope topography of 82 meters above sea level and an area of about 4.1 km2. The majority are farming/gardening, coolies, and construction workers are the main occupations. Potential water resources include rivers with a width of 3-5 meters around the village. Each 1 artesian spot, boiling water spot, murky water borehole, and 5 units of wells with a depth of 15 meters. The problem with this village partner is that there is still a lack of access to clean water, so the solution offered to lift/pump the potential for river flow is to use a hydraulic ram pump without electricity & fuel. Therefore, this community service activity aims to provide an understanding of hydraulic ram pump knowledge and open insight into the potential for welfare due to the pump. The results of the transfer of knowledge of hydraulic ram pumps show a good indication with the achievement of the main material up to 80% based on the results of the feedback questionnaire and it can be stated that the villagers of Lalouesamba are ready to advance to the next stage, namely practical training on assembling/making hydraulic ram pumps. Requests for additional discussion from residents and village heads are evidence of the enthusiastic response, which is a sign of the opening of insight into the potential of hydram pumps for the welfare of villagers after receiving enlightenment about hydram knowledge

Simulated Performance of an Energy Storage and Return Prosthetic Ankle Based on Cams and Miniature Hydraulics

Prosthetic feet are limited in their ability to mimic the energy-recycling behavior of an intact ankle, negatively affecting lower-limb amputees’ gait in terms of metabolic cost and walking speed. To overcome these weaknesses, a novel prosthetic ankle based on hydraulics is described here. The ankle joint drives two cams, which in turn drive two hydraulic rams. One cam-ram system captures the negative work done from foot-flat until maximum dorsiflexion, by pumping oil into an accumulator, while the other returns positive work during push-off providing forward propulsion through fluid flowing from the accumulator to the ram. Simulation results are promising: of the total negative work done by the prosthetic ankle over the gait cycle (i.e., the maximum amount of energy available to be stored), 78% is returned, mainly during push-off; 14% is carried forward for future gait cycles; and 8% is lost. The estimated prosthesis height and mass are approximately <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${26}.{5} {cm}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${2}.{3} {kg}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> . Nonetheless, further work is necessary to realise a prototype for bench and in-vivo testing. By mimicking intact ankle torque and efficiently storing and returning energy at the ankle joint, this new design may contribute to reducing amputees’ metabolic cost of walking.

Experimental Test of Hydram Pump Model in Utilization of Artesian Well Water Flow

A hydraulic ram is a device for moving fluid from a lower place to a higher place. Hydram pumps have the same function as pumps in general. The driving energy of the hydraulic ram pump comes from the pressure of the water entering through the suction pipe into the pump. By using the energy of a large enough flow of water at a low place, the water will flow to a higher place with less water flow capacity. The capacity of water flowing to a higher place depends on the difference in pressure between the suction pipe and the pump discharge pipe. The design of the hydraulic ram pump in the form of a model is used to distribute water sourced from artesian wells. The calculation results show that the maximum pump capacity of 2.11 x 10-4 m3/s occurs at the suction valve opening 90° and the discharge valve opening 90°, and the minimum capacity 0.51x10-4 m3/s occurs at the suction valve opening 90° and the discharge valve opening 20 °. The maximum pump head of 4.34 m occurs at 90° suction valve opening and 90° discharge valve opening, and the minimum 1.33 m pump head occurs at 90° suction valve opening and 20° discharge valve opening. The maximum water power of 0.0119 Hp occurs at 90° suction valve opening and 90° discharge valve opening, and the minimum water power occurs at 90° suction valve opening and 20° discharge valve opening.

Life Cycle Analysis of the Raseta Pump Using OpenLCA

Developed and crafted in Madagascar, the Raseta pump is a novel hydraulic ram (hydram) pump using a springs system. It operates differently from other pumps by the exclusive use of water energy due to the water hammer phenomenon induced by the sudden stop of the water flow. The present study initiates the investigation of the environmental impacts of this new type of hydram pump through a life cycle analysis using OpenLCA 1.8. It was found that, when operating in a small-scale water pumping system, the choice of the pump supply pipe material has small differences of environmental impacts, whether the material is made of steel or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Moreover, compared to a solar pump for the same pumping flow rate, the use of the Raseta pump is more environmentally friendly and less harmful to human health. However, the actual advantageous utilization of such a system needs further studies such as social and techno-economic analysis.

Cam based Infinitely Variable Transmission Theoretic Modelling

Infinitely variable transmission (IVT) is a system which delivers the ratio between two turning elements to a continuous (non-discrete) variation (including zero). This article uses Solidworks software to build and simulate a cam-based IVT system. There are two identical units in the system under examination. Each unit comprises a cam with an oscillating slot connection that swings on a hinge and can be vertically shifted by changing the transmission rate. This modifier can be a power screw or a hydraulic ram. In addition, a grooved wheel and followers or an actuator are included in the system units. The raised wheels swing rotating movement, such that they are coupled by a single-way clutch to the output shaft (ratchet) to move the output shaft one way.During the performance research, cam shapes are considered and examined inside the mechanism. a mixture of the unchanging speed and 1-5 polynomial shapes, used for the current investigation and tailored forThe results produced from the simulation generally reveal the theoretical results expected in accordance with the layout of the current IVT system. For all parts in these units, the findings imply a uniform velocity while each unit is powered. In this investigation, nevertheless, the ratchets used cause remarkable fluctuations in the angular speed of the output axis. Further research is therefore urgently needed in the choice and investigation of more efficient ratchets.

Influência do volume/diâmetro da tampa da câmara de pressão na eficiência do carneiro hidráulico alternativo

Among one of the main problems affecting Brazilian agriculture, we can mention the transport of water, since in many places it is necessary to lift it and transport it to other areas. Equipment such as motor pumps is being used. However, they present a high cost to purchase the equipment, in addition to using non-renewable sources. Aiming to get around this fact, the use of hydraulic ram becomes a viable alternative, as it is a low-cost equipment whose function is to pump water without the use of fuel or electricity, and can alternatively be built with PVC parts, and PET bottles for be used as a pressure chamber, studies are needed to prove the efficiency of manufacturing this equipment with alternative parts. The objective of this work was to evaluate the functioning of the combination of different volumes (1, 2 and 3L) of the PET bottle pressure chamber in different diameters (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 cm) of the hole in the bottle cap, and observe which of the combinations show the best performance, the highest flow rate and the ratio between the amounts of water hammer strokes per minute with repressed flow. The results show that the combination of the pressure chamber of a 2 L PET bottle with the diameter of the hole in the bottle cap of 2.5 cm presented better performance, higher flow and amounts of water hammer strokes per minute with repressed flow.

Experimental Study on the Effect of Waste Valve Load and the Volume of Air Chamber on the Performance of the Hydraulic Ram Pump (Hydram) to Water the Paddy Field in Pakandangan, Padang Pariaman Regency

This 2019 DIPA Grand’s research designed and fabricated the size of hydraulic ram (hydram) pump utilized in Pakandangan, Padang Pariaman Regency. There is a water source in this area which has not been functioned adequately to irrigate the paddy field of 10 hectares due to the location of the paddy field which is higher than the water source. However, the use of designed hydram pump has no been maximized as the pump’s optimal performance was not determined yet. Therefore, a hydram pump was designed by varying the load of waste valve in the weight of 400 g, 600 g, 800 g, 1,000 g, and 1,200 gr. It was also varied in the volume of the chamber when the pump operated which were 4.86 lt, 5.76 lt, 6.48 lt, 7.29 lt, and 8.1lt. The height (Hd) of the inlet pipe was 1 m, and the lift height (Hs) of the outlet pipe was 5 m. The results obtained from Pump performance increases with increasing cylinder volume. The increase in the load of the exhaust valve volume of the tube remains a significant decrease. Hydram pump performance occurs at a load of 400 g with a tube volume of 8.1 l with an efficiency of 53%

Hydraulic Ram Pump Integration into Water Distribution Systems for Energy Recovery Application

This study presents the potential of integrating Hydrams in modern water distribution systems (WDSs) for managing excess pressure and reducing energy costs. Hydrams, which are also termed Hydraulic ram pumps in the literature, is a cyclic water pump powered by hydropower, generally used to pump drinking and irrigation water in mountainous and rural areas having short of power. The Hydrams is introduced as a sustainable low-cost alternative solution to the more conventional pressure reducing valves (PRVs) approach for managing pressure zones in WDSs. Unlike PRVs, where the pressure is lost and not put into good use, Hydrams mitigate excess pressure at high-pressure zones and direct it to much-needed low-pressure zones. In addition, Hydrams are cheap, simple, environmentally friendly, and require little maintenance. The proposed approach integrates a Hydram in parallel to the original centrifugal pump, where they can be operated interchangeably according to the system’s hydraulic needs. Nevertheless, it is vital to correctly size the Hydram at the feed line and accompany it with a proper storage tank at the low-pressure zone. The storage tank serves as a buffer between the intermittent water supply and consumer demand pattern. Moreover, the tank introduces flexibility into the system that allows more sustainable operating schedules. Two case study applications of increasing complexity are presented to demonstrate the potential of this Hybrid system, later referred to as Hybrid Pumping Unit (HPU). The Hydram and tank sizing is done by a simple heuristic approach, while the operation of the system is dictated by a genetic algorithm. The results demonstrate the potential of integrated Hydrams in reducing excess pressures and energy costs.