MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DESIGN, ART AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROJECT: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A RAM PUMP LUKANGA GERALD 15/U/556 215000534 A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. ABSTRACT Water collection from sources especially in Uganda due to its hilly topography generally, is quite hard and a complex activity to undertake, because of the expensive existing alternatives used such as fuel pumps, solar pumps and in addition to that, fuel pumps have an adverse effect to the environment in terms of air pollution and noise which they do emit during their operation. Therefore, this project study was aimed at finding an alternative solution to water pumping or collection method especially from flowing streams or rivers using an energy free hydraulic ram pump, a pump which uses the hydraulic pressure of water to pump part of the water from the low lying areas to highly elevated altitudes thus eliminating the use of external conventional energy sources to pump water and above all it requires minimal maintenance after installation because of the simplicity of the materials used in its construction. To ensure the proper establishment of a successful and operational design project, different research methods, designs and experiments were carried out. The design was done with solid works software and the experiments were carried out after the prototype was constructed. The experiments were carried out by varying the source head of the pump while monitoring the delivery flow rate, the waste flow rate and the delivery pressures. The delivery head was measured using GPS Receiver COMNAV T300 in Real Time Kinematic (RTK). Results obtained from the experiments were analysed and it was observed that the delivery flow rate of the pump increases with an increase in the supply head, no delivery pressures were recorded as the pressure gauge showed no deflections, this was to the limited supply of water as the experiments were being carried out. Considering the experiments carried out, the recommendations would be on further study on other design concepts, especially on the part of the waste valve, ways of limiting the wastage that goes through it, a thorough study on the effect of the air column on the operation of the pump and the experiments to be carried out from a place where there is a continuous supply of water into the pump to have proper and accurate analysis of the system. The study carried out was limited because of the inadequacy in terms of funds. As suggested in the proposal, there The maximum head pump head attained was 6.3 m with a maximum delivery flow rate of 7.1 litres per minute at a supply head of 2 m but, different delivery heads can be attained with changes in the supply head of water into the pump i ii DEDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This final year project report is a special dedication to my parents Mrs. Aidah and Mr. Jjuuko Deogratius for their unending support and guidance they have endeavoured to constantly provide me, and constantly being there for me in times of need. I would like also to take this opportunity to thank my elder brother frank Wampamba and my auntie Juliana Kajumba who have financed me through out, to the completion of this project. I would like also to share my sincere gratitude to my project supervisor Dr. Olupot. W. Peter for the guidance he has rendered to me throughout this project, because of him this project has been a success. My appreciation also goes to my co-supervisor Mr. Mujjuni Francis for his guidance and support to make this work through May the almighty GOD bless you all, all whatever you did, may He reward you back in plenty. iii TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................ i DECLARATION.................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. DEDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................. iii TABLE OF CONTENT ....................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................................. vii LIST OF ACRYONMS ..................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0. Background .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Problem statement ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.2. Objectives.................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3. Scope ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4. Justification ................................................................................................................................ 3 1.6. Research questions ..................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................................. 4 2.0. Literature Review .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4 2.2. The Hydraulic Ram-pump ........................................................................................................ 4 2.3. Working principle ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.4. Starting operation ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.4.1. Priming of the ram pump ................................................................................................... 8 2.5. Components of the ram pump and their functions ................................................................. 8 2.5.1. Air vessel (Air Chamber or Accumulator) ....................................................................... 8 2.5.2. Valves ................................................................................................................................. 15 2.5.3. Drive pipe ........................................................................................................................... 20 2.5.4. Losses ................................................................................................................................. 21 2.6. Water hammer ......................................................................................................................... 22 2.6.1. Time for wave travel in the pump body .......................................................................... 23 2.7. Design and construction of a ram pump ................................................................................ 23 2.9. Efficiency .................................................................................................................................. 25 2.10. The common problems associated with ram pumps ........................................................... 25 2.11. Maintenance of the ram pump .............................................................................................. 26 2.12. Design factors ......................................................................................................................... 26 2.13. Other water pumping methods ............................................................................................. 27 2.13.1. Dynamic pumps ............................................................................................................... 28 iv 2.13.2. Positive displacement pumps ......................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................................ 29 3.0. METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 29 3.1. DATA COLLECTION. ........................................................................................................... 29 3.2. Conceptual frame work ........................................................................................................... 30 3.3. Planning .................................................................................................................................... 30 3.3.1. Concept generation ..........................................................................................................