The performance analysis of Hydraulic Ram Pump: Influence of specific parameters and validation with Comsol-Multiphysics

Abstract

Both energy and environmental conservation have been major issues in today’s world. Conventional pumping devices use a huge amount of energy. This gave rise to interest in alternate pumping devices like hydraulic ram pumps. The hydraulic ram pump is capable of pumping water higher than its source with some inlet pressure and velocity head. It works on the principle of the water hammer effect which occurs due to sudden stoppage of flow resulting in the rise in pressure. Since it uses just two moving parts it is mechanically very simple, has very high reliability, minimal maintenance requirements, and long operational life. In rural areas where unconventional energy suffers from various limitations, emphasis is given mainly to the use of unconventional forms of energy. It is designed on the principle of conversion of the potential energy of water into kinetic energy and further conversion into pressure energy to lift water to some desired elevation without the use of electricity, motors, generators or batteries and that is the main advantage for opting this technology.  It can operate autonomously, requiring minimal maintenance and having a long lifespan. Additionally, it is a green energy concept, environment-friendly, producing no emissions or pollutants. But, as it runs from the power of water itself in the form of waste water, efficiency is found to be minimal, rendering its limited scope. Hence, it is a need-based approach for maximizing its performance by providing a sustainable and efficient water pumping solution. The vital components of this technology have been detected which play a pivotal role in its performance. These are called influencing parameters. This paper investigates the effect of influencing parameters specifically–the horizontal distance between the pressure chamber and to waste valve (HD) on the performance and the overall efficiency of the Hydraulic ram pump (hydram). Both experimental and simulation studies were done in order to achieve the justification. Five sets of prototypes have been designed and tested individually for experimental and analytical studies. The maximum efficiency comes out to be 79 % with a flow rate of 140 L/hr for optimized HD of 17 cm. The results obtained from the experimental investigation are further simulated with comsol multiphysics for final validation. The experimental study and Comsol multiphysics simulation validate the proposed model and confirm its justification.