PERFORMANCE OF AN AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC RAM.

Abstract

The paper presents an experimental study on a hydraulic ram. The test rig consists of a long straight horizontal pipe line which is connected, at one end, to a constant head water supply tank and, at the other end, to a gravity-assisted impulse valve. The operating characteristics of the ram investigated are the supply head, delivery head, water wasted through the impulse valve, beat frequency of impulse valve, hydraulic power developed by the ram and the Rankine efficiency. The power and efficiency vary through an optimum point when the delivery head is increased. However, in terms of delivery flow rate and efficiency, a better performance of the ram is obtained with the increasing supply head. A selection chart is proposed to assist in the design of a hydraulic ram for a given duty.