Hydraulic Ram

A hydraulic ram is a kind of a pumping arrangement which does not utilize any outside power. It is a pump of impulse type that raises water by the periodic application of force suddenly applied and suddenly discontinued. Figure shows the set up of a hydraulic ram.

                                         Figure : Line Diagram of a Hydraulic Ram

It consists of a valve box in which low head water flows. The box contains a waste valve, VW, and a delivery valve, VD, that are non-return valves that allow the flow only in one direction. Valve VD is connected with an air vessel which is connected to the delivery tank as shown in Figure . It works on the principle of water hammer. While a flowing liquid is suddenly brought to rest, the modification in momentum of liquid mass causes a sudden rise in pressure. This increment in pressure is utilized to raise a portion of the liquid to higher level.