Module 6: Hydraulic Ram Pump Systems (ACF/DTU Design)¶

Pumps & Lifting • Est. CapEx: Low-cost / Locally fabricated

Technical Overview¶

A comprehensive field manual developed by ACF and the University of Warwick’s DTU for designing, manufacturing, and installing hydraulic ram pump systems in rural areas of developing countries, with a focus on Indonesia. It includes local construction techniques using welding and hand tools.

Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters¶

Parameter	Specification
Category	Pumps & Lifting
Capital Cost	Low-cost / Locally fabricated
Primary Mechanism	Standard water hammer cycle: water flows down a drive pipe, an impulse valve closes automatically, sending a pressure wave through an air chamber to push water up the delivery pipe. A snifter valve introduces a small air bubble to maintain chamber pressure. The cycle repeats 20–100 times per minute.
Target Scale	Household / Village Cluster
Standard Lifespan	10 - 20 Years

Engineering Trade-Offs¶

✅ Advantages⚠️ Limitations

★
V
e
r
y
d
e
t
a
i
l
e
d
s
t
e
p
-
b
y
-
s
t
e
p
g
u
i
d
e
w
i
t
h
w
e
l
d
i
n
g
i
n
s
t
r
u
c
t
i
o
n
s
,
f
l
a
n
g
e
t
e
m
p
l
a
t
e
s
,
a
n
d
s
i
z
i
n
g
t
a
b
l
e
s
.
D
e
s
i
g
n
e
d
f
o
r
l
o
c
a
l
f
a
b
r
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
w
i
t
h
m
i
n
i
m
a
l
t
o
o
l
i
n
g
;
a
d
a
p
t
e
d
f
r
o
m
f
i
e
l
d
e
x
p
e
r
i
e
n
c
e
i
n
I
n
d
o
n
e
s
i
a
a
n
d
P
h
i
l
i
p
p
i
n
e
s
.

F
a
b
r
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
r
e
q
u
i
r
e
s
m
e
t
a
l
w
o
r
k
i
n
g
s
k
i
l
l
s
a
n
d
w
e
l
d
i
n
g
e
q
u
i
p
m
e
n
t
;
t
h
e
m
a
n
u
a
l
i
s
l
e
n
g
t
h
y
a
n
d
r
e
q
u
i
r
e
s
t
e
c
h
n
i
c
a
l
t
r
a
i
n
i
n
g
t
o
f
o
l
l
o
w
a
c
c
u
r
a
t
e
l
y
.

Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools¶

Need to evaluate this technology for your specific field site? Run the WhatWater.info Selector Engine to compare it against 100+ alternative solutions.