Water Ram? What is it?

[creekside-angie]

I have a small creek @ the back of my property,it always flows,even if its just a little in the driest parts of summer.Some one told me if they had a creek like mine they would put in a water ram.What is that? Can I put one in on a some times low flow creek if its something I can use? Also is it something I can build? I have plumbing knowledge and much plumbing supplies @ my disposal.Any help would really be appreciated .Thanks- creekside-angie

[AlchemyAcres]

Hi Angie,

A hydraulic ram pump harnesses the kinetic energy of water in a pipe to pump a portion of that water (roughly 10%).

There are several different designs...they can be built with readily available plumbing fittings.

This webpage from Clemson University sums it up pretty good.

http://www.clemson.edu/irrig/Equip/ram.htm


~Martin

[creekside-angie]

Thank you,Martin
This definately looks like some thing I can do, and I have most every thing I need already!
Thanks Again,
Angie

[JAK]

The think about a water ram is that you usually need a run downhill from the water source, then it lifts a portion of that water back up to a height above the water source. I suppose if the creek was moving fast you could do something similar without the drop. An alternative would be a water wheel driving an archimedes screw. An archimedes screw can be made from large diameter hose.

Another cool thing you can do with a fast moving stream is use it to provide low pressure compressed air. This was originally developed to provide air for blast furnaces. I think the river needs to have some depth though. It is similar to a water ram, but it forces out air bubbles and provides air instead of water. I forget the name of this thing.