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Ram Pump

Development of the Hydromissions Ram Pump

The challenge - Clean water, a resource that many people take for granted in the US is a rare commodity in many parts of the world. Even "unclean" water for irrigation purposes can be scarce.  Water is required for farming.  In some under-developed countries, water is available but not in the location where it can be used for raising crops and/or watering live stock. Hydromissions International requested that KTM assist in the development of a low cost/low technology pump.  Requirements specifically that the pump can be built and configured in an under developed, third world country. Hydromissions is an organization that develops and delivers low technology water equipment specifically for use where electricity or other powered equipment is not available.

The solution - A ram pump that uses hydraulic ram to drive the pump.

How it works - A ram pump uses hydraulic ram (water hammer) pressure developed when fluid flow is suddenly interrupted. Ram pumps have been in existence for many years.  However, with the development of PVC plastics and other modern materials, it is possible to construct a reliable pump using off the shelf hardware that can be obtained from virtually any hardware store. The physics of a ram pump is very simple and the configuration is forgiving.  The pump will work in a moving stream or through a vertical elevation change.

This pump was tested in the Reedy River in Greenville, South Carolina.  Although the pump was placed in a running stream, the actual hydraulic ram was developed only from the vertical drop between the top of the waterfall and the pump placement (shown in the picture at the right).  The actual measured drop was 4 feet.  Using 100 feet of flexible 5/8 inch hose, the pump was able to lift the water column to an elevation of 40 feet, with a steady output flow.
 

Want to learn more - Visit Hydromissions International for plans and user manual.

 

 

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KTM SOLUTIONS - Providing quality technical solutions to satisfy your critical design needs, even low technology water projects.

$75.00 RAM Pump is capable of pumping water to an elevation of 40 feet with 4 foot vertical  drop

Watch our testing video

Click here to see testing in the Reedy River - Greenville, SC

(quick time movie viewer required)

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