Yes, I am a Water Ram Ametuer. But hey, it works!!
This is my Home Made Modern Water Ram
The piece of wood is just supporting the ram.
This angle was critical for getting the flapper check to cycle properly.
Getting the flapper check to cycle properly seems to be the secret in most water rams.
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All metrics are approximate, but close.
For a drop or fall of approx 3 1/2 feet, (about 1.1 m)
about 1.5psi (10.34 kPa)
input
I got about 6psi (41.36 kPa)
output from the ram
6 psi (41.4 kPa)
times 2.31 feet per psi (10.2 cm per kPa)
= 13.8feet (4.2 m)
lift
so, like 10.3 foot (3.1 m)
or4.46 psi
(30.8 kPa) lift above feed tank
drivepipe length=21'
(6.4 m)
The drive pipe needs to be this long, as it is the kinitec
energy
By most standards I have seen, this water ram is tiny!
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drive pipe size 1/2 inch (12.7mm)
ram made from 3/8 inch (9.5mm)
pipe
slammer check valve is 1/2 inch
(12.7mm) flapper check valve
check valve is 3/8 inch (9.5mm)
spring check valve
air chamber is 2"
(5 cm) pipe approx 1 foot
(30.5 cm)
long.
built up in the water flowing in the pipe that actually "rams" its way
through the spring checkvalve, when the flapper check valve slams closed.
Thus pressurizing the air/water past the spring check valve.
Please see a REAL water ram at the
Kittitas Valley Early Iron Club
2001 Threshing Bee Picture Page Located
Here look about half way down the page.
This is a view looking from the tank, towards the water ram.
This view shows the flapper check open,
the water in the pipe is building up momentum,
from gravity, to be kinetic, or moving energy in the pipe, when this flapper closes
there is a large rise in pressure on the upstream side of the spring check valve,
due to the rapid deceleration of the water moving in the pipe.
Thus forcing the water through the spring check valve. After the water has gone through
the spring check valve, and it closes, the water pressure at the flapper is zero.
It is zero just long enough for the flapper to fall open again,
and the water to start flowing again, and the cycle repeats it self.
Here we see the flapper check valve just after it has opened,
and the water has just started to flow again.
The discharge pressure is shown on the guage in psi. (1psi= approx 6.9kPa)
You can see, the total fall is only about 3 and 1/2 feet (approx 1.1 meters)