Tests were conducted at the Hydraulics Laboratory of Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, to evaluate a hydraulic ram pump built with PVC and metallic threadable connections, and a bottle made with polyethylene tereftalic, known as PET. The manufacturer features tested were: bottle size (0.6 and 2.5L), hole size of the bottle top (5, 15 and 25mm), bottle models (disposable and returnable) and valve positions (horizontal and vertical). The operational hydraulic head was 4.36m and the simulated pump elevation pressures were 48.39 to 483.92kPa and 48.39 to 48.39kPa. The best efficiency, the highest pumped water flow, the lowest operational water flow and the lowest waste water flow were obtained using the 0.6L PET disposable or returnable bottle with horizontal valve position and top size of 25mm.
hydraulic evaluation; blow of ram; disposable bottle
