Platypus Pumps

In our searchfor better and better pumps, we came across the 'platypus pump',so called because it can sit under the water.

This is adevelopment of the hydraulic ram, with a conscious removal of theinefficiencies of the conventional ram resulting in a five foldincrease in efficiency, and the ability to run on just half ameter of head.

For those whohaven't heard of Hydraulic rams, they are a variety of waterpowered pump, using the falling energy of a larger amount ofwater to push a smaller amount of water a lot further.

The water inthe 'drive pipe', - 6 metres of 2 inch galvanized steel pipe,flows through the pump until it reaches a speed sufficient toclose the outlet valve, called the 'impetus valve'.This brings toa sudden halt all the water in the pipe, which, having no whereto go, and water being virtually incompressible, forces it's waypast the one way valve in the pump into the delivery pipe, andthence to your tank...

This cyclecontinues every second or two,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Platypus can pump water to nearly 100 metres higher than the pump, and retails for $420.

The advantagesover the conventional ram are,

(1) More water pumped higher in a given site,
(2) The pump being under water maximises head height, and
(3) Also minimises noise
(4) Is out of the way of floods.
(5) Drive pipe is half the length,
(6)Installation is easier.

One customerwho bought one of these from us liked the concept but wassceptical about the five times ratio. He installed it next to aconventional 'Wilcox' Hydraulic ram and much to his surprise itpumped five times as much water to the same tank.
He was delighted.