Amazing Device Pumps Well Water Using Compressed A [Archive]

AlchemyAcres

02-16-2009, 02:27 PM

The idea has been around for a long time.
It's an airlift pump. I have one in my well.

http://www.geocities.com/~dmdelaney/air-lift-pumps/Air_lift_pumps.html

~Martin

Ebug

02-16-2009, 02:29 PM

The idea has been around for a long time.
It's an airlift pump. I have one in my well.

http://www.geocities.com/~dmdelaney/air-lift-pumps/Air_lift_pumps.html

~Martin

It was all new to me. ;D

flatwater

02-16-2009, 04:49 PM

Whats the advantage ?

AlchemyAcres

02-16-2009, 07:36 PM

Whats the advantage ?
In my case...

I can use a small 12v air compressor to pump water to a holding tank via the dump load from my wind turbines.

These pumps are super cheap.

The pump can be used in any sized well. My well is just a 2-3/4 inch well that I drilled.

~Martin

johnjmw

02-17-2009, 03:50 AM

Martin,
Does the pump cause a hammering affect in the house lines or is it all just in the tank?
John

Good use for the excess wind power.

flatwater

02-17-2009, 03:50 PM

I also noticed on the video that you have water and then air. does that happen with you 12 volt compreser ?

AlchemyAcres

02-17-2009, 09:45 PM

Martin,
Does the pump cause a hammering affect in the house lines or is it all just in the tank?
John

Good use for the excess wind power.

The water is pumped out of the ground and into a holding tank where it casn be drawn of or pressurized with a 12v pressure pump...because of the holding tank the surging isn't an issue.

I also noticed on the video that you have water and then air. does that happen with you 12 volt compreser ?
Yes, but beacuse the water ultimately comes from the holding tank it isn't an issue.

~Martin

johnjmw

02-18-2009, 03:49 AM

Martin,
How small of a 12V pump are you using? Like the emergency car tire pumps? Or is it bigger and home made. I don't know of any other 12V pumps than the ones for tires.
John

flatwater

02-18-2009, 04:08 PM

Johnjmw , I think he uses an RV 12volt pump , They have several sizes

johnjmw

02-18-2009, 06:33 PM

I'm sorry, the question was pointed towards the 12V air compressor. Or is it a 12V air compressor? This sounds doable for my place and it could be done with the solar panels I have. Well maybe.
John

johnjmw

02-27-2009, 04:24 AM

I was looking at using a small auto tire pump to test this out at my property. A friend of mine said that at least 30lbs pressure would be needed to get the air down deep enough to be effective. I am hoping to use a small enough pipe to not need to much air. I already have an 1 1/2inch sch40 pipe in the well for a hand pump. I wonder if I pull the drive rod if I can put in a air line down it to bubble the water up. This could give me the 10 or 20 Gallons that I would normally use while I am down there (it's only a weekend retreat right now). AlchemyAcres, since you use one how small an air pump might i get away with? I am hoping, like you are doing, to use 12v.
John

Anon001

02-28-2009, 03:09 PM

John,
I don't know much about it, but I would think that an auto tire pump wouldn't have enough volume... Let us know how your experiment works!

johnjmw

03-01-2009, 04:52 AM

Thats what I was thinking. Though a couple of friends mentioned that the rotatory air inflator (like the ones used to inflate beach toys and air mattresses) might work, if they will get up to aprox 30lbs pressure. We've thought that as far down the well I want to put the pipes I might only need that pressure to displace the water going down.
We'll see what happens. First I have to play a little with a small test system then look for what I will need to go down 60'-80' to bring water up at a reasonable cost. I'm not in a hurry cause I have a hand pump there now, but some times I am lazy and want more water. I might even look at a vertical axis wind turbine attached to a air pump. Thats a search for another day.
John

Ebug

03-01-2009, 05:07 AM

Even though I started the thread I must admit that I am dumber than a box of rocks on the subject but I just finished reading the last post and then went out to my garage and brought in my little electric Air station qith an air guage that goes to 150 pounds. Might be just the thing? ???

Anon001

03-01-2009, 05:47 AM

Hey, John... you gave me an idea. They make those pond aerators.... maybe you could hook up some sort of air pump with a wind mill.... It would be easier and better than having to service and repair leathers in a regular windmill....

Ebug, go play with it and tell us if your air station will do the job.... I'm too lazy to go out and try mine! LOL

Ebug

03-01-2009, 05:56 AM

Only thing I have used it for has been tires and air mattresses. I have a 12 volt pump that plugs in the lighter in the van

12vman

03-01-2009, 06:09 AM

It's not the pressure of the air, it's the volume. The size of the pipe coming out of the well will designate how much air volume you need. The larger diameter of pipe, the more volume you would need.

Try this..

Take a straw and a alka seltzer. Break up the alka seltzer and find a small piece that you can wedge in the end of the straw without totally blocking the end to allow water to enter the straw around the piece of alka seltzer. Take a glass that is shorter than the straw and fill it up about 3/4 of the way with water. Insert the end of the straw with the chunk of alka seltzer in it into the glass of water. This should give you an idea on how it works.. 8)

"If a constant stream of water the size of a wheat straw that flows 24/7, collected in a reservoir, can support 10 head of cattle"

AlchemyAcres

03-01-2009, 10:36 PM

....if I can put in a air line down it....

I hope you're not talking about putting the airline inside the delivery pipe.
That would cause friction and definitely be counter-productive.

It really doesn't take much of an air pump...duty cycle is probably as important as anything....you don't want a cheap pump.

Here's the pump I use....................

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93186

~Martin

AlchemyAcres

03-01-2009, 10:36 PM

johnjmw

03-02-2009, 04:01 AM

AlchemyAcres I was at Harbor Freight over the weekend looking at what 12v pumps they had. Ran out of time but finially did find the 12v pumps Didn't notice that one at the store but I'll look again. While looking at different designs online I saw a few that showed the supply line inside the return but I was not planning on going that way. I'll look again when I get a chance.
12V I know I will not need much pressure, just enough to displace the water in the supply pipe to get the air down 60 odd feet. I was not sure if the car pumps would push enough volume to raise the water up.
Thanks everyone. I think it is almost time to start playing. I have some 3/4" pvc in the garage with a T or three. Lets see what I can do before I go buy the pipes for the well.
John

MooseToo

03-02-2009, 08:08 AM

you need the pressure to get the air down to the bottom of the pipe - you need the volume to push air bubbles that fill the volume of the pipe - if you have enough pressure and not enough volume the pipe size will have to be reduced - small bubbles going up a large pipe will do nothing but make gurgling sounds for you - the up side is that a smaller diameter pipe is less expensive - in fact, you might get by with tubing instead of pipe -

johnjmw

03-02-2009, 02:05 PM

I was not planning on going over 1" and might stick with 3/4". I know what you are saying about needing the volume to get the lift. The first pipe I was looking at was 3/4 PVC but the plex would be a lot easier to put in and out. The well is only 90ish feet with 30' to get to the water level. My need, for now is minimal say 10-20 gallons for a weekend of fun and festivities (cooking and some cleaning and dishes).
John