Hydraulic Ram Pump

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CYaBro

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#269816 9-Apr-2020 10:25

As we have a river on our property I want to build a hydraulic ram pump to fill a tank to then gravity feed to stock troughs.
The tank is currently only filled by rainwater from the shed roof and isn't always enough especially in summer so we often have to take water from our house tank which isn't ideal.

Anyone here built one themselves?
Any tips on where the best or cheapest place is to buy the components needed?

I think I've watched every video about ram pumps on Youtube so have a pretty good idea on how to do it. 😂
Just need to figure out what the best size is going to be to build and if there is going to be enough fall/head of water into the pump to get the water up to where I need it.

Zeon

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#2458043 9-Apr-2020 11:00

I watched some videos about those pumps on Youtube. While I am not sure on this, is an option if the head is large to try and force a higher pressure in the pipe such as using a smaller diameter pipe? Or using a larger diameter on the actual apparatus? Generally speaking constricting a higher volume will cause pressure to rise which could help achieve a greater head?

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neb

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#2458559 9-Apr-2020 17:16

Just out of interest, what are you going to build it with? These are used fairly widely in Europe but since they're essentially a contained water hammer the construction is always heavy-duty, massive cast iron or heavy bolted-together pressure chambers.

gumboot19

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#2458601 9-Apr-2020 18:16

Yeah, where I grew up you could hear the old water rams for a fair distance. Maybe 300 metres away on a cold night.

Hope you can make them quieter nowdays.

wally22

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#2458604 9-Apr-2020 18:20

Found this, if it is of any use...

https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/homemade-hydraulic-ram-pump-for-livestock-water/

larknz

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#2458617 9-Apr-2020 19:28

Do you have resource consent to take water

neb

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#2458621 9-Apr-2020 19:35

larknz: Do you have resource consent to take water

For the OP, this is called a water take consent, and good point, you'll need to check this. In rural areas it's relatively straightforward but it depends on where you are, and how big your river is. In water-rich areas you can take several cubic metres a day, so thousands of litres, without needing a consent.

CYaBro

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#2459095 10-Apr-2020 19:40

larknz: Do you have resource consent to take water

Yes we do and already pump water from there for the house supply.
And all the farms around us use it for irrigation.
Wouldn’t be taking any more water than we already do now, the idea is to save on some power so we don’t need to run the electric pump as often.