How Does Hydraulic Ram Work?

Definition

A Hydraulic ram is a water pump designed to operate on hydro (or water) power. A Hydraulic ram is also commonly referred to as a Hydram and is notable in that, due to its design, it is able to move water to a higher place than where it started using only the force generated by the water itself. Hydraulic rams can be found used in a variety of ways in everyday life, most notably as the force that powers water fountains.

Operation

Water enters the hydraulic ram through a valve. The water goes through the valve and down a pipe using gravity. As the water falls it picks up kinetic energy and forces the entry valve to be closed. Because the water is moving with considerable momentum and the valve is now closed, this creates what is referred to as the "water hammer effect." This causes the pressure to rise inside the pipe and opens a second valve, called the delivery valve.

An Uphill Battle

The water is transferred from the delivery valve into what is called a delivery pipe. Because the water is flowing up hill at this point and it is traveling a farther distance than the distance it traveled when it was flowing due to gravity, the speed and momentum of the water flow slows and then stops. Once all water flow in the hydraulic ram has stopped, the valve from the start of the process reopens again. This allows the entire processes to begin all over again. This happens over and over, powered by just the pressure of the water itself.