Ram Pumps
The hydraulic ram pump, or hydram, concept was first developed by the Mongolfier brothers in France in 1796 (they are better remembered for their pioneering work with hot-air balloons). Essentially, a hydram is an automatic pumping device which utilizes a small fall of water to lift a fraction of the supply flow to a much greater height; i.e. it uses a larger flow of water falling through a small head to lift a small flow of water through a higher head. The main virtue of the hydram is that its only moving parts are two valves, and it is therefore mechanically very simple. This gives it very high reliability, minimal maintenance requirements and a long operation life.
BGET’s first ram pump installation was in cooperation with the Thai company Meribah Ram Pump. The ram pump was installed in the Thai/Karen village Poblaki, in Tak province. The water is delivered from a small stream over a pipe distance of 300 meters and a vertical distance of 70m to the village school. Approximately 1,500 liters of water are pumped up to the school each day providing the students with water for drinking, cooking, and washing.
