Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability and efficiency of water supply using hydraulic ram pump. Study area is the Imgok-ri, Hwanam-myeon, Sanju-si, Kyeongsangbuk-do. There is an abandoned coal mine, where groundwater is discharged from its entrance with a flow rate of approximately 260 m³/day. Hydraulic ram pump uses the waterhammer phenomenon and utilizes the power of falling water for pumping part of that water to a higher elevation than the water sources without electric power. To determine the efficiency of hydraulic ram pump, the flow rate was measured at three points according to the altitude difference (Δh = 19 m (point 1), 30 m (point 2), 40 m (point 3)). Flow rate measured at 1, 2, and 3 were about 8.6~10.8 m³/day, 3.98~4.39 m³/day, and 2.35~2.59 m³/day, respectively. The current results suggested that, hydraulic ram pump could be applicable for the water supply system in mountain areas without external power supply.

Keywords hydraulic ram pump, groundwater discharge, water supply system, waterhammer phenomenon, mountain areas