The Sullivan Air Lift Pumping System

outside, in the well, or in the rock, gravel or sand strata; and an upward flow is thus created. The air lift should be a perfect expan- sion pump, but un- fortunately there are other natural laws that take effect which prevent this in ordinary “straight air” installations. The following are ' some of the condi- Open-Air Air Lift Plant, pumping water from a deep well for irrigation in New Mexico Flow from a Sullivan Air Lift installation in the California Oil Fields lions responsible for low efficiency in open end pipe air lifts. 1. The difference in pressure between the air and water where the former enters the eduction pipe is small, and the air flows into the water at a low velocity. In the open end pipe lift, the air must travel some distance towards the surface in the eduction line, before it can expand sufficiently to form a plug and carry the water with it. This means a loss in submergence. 2. As the bubble of air travels towards the surface and the pres- sure above decreases, it must expand, and being confined in the pipe can only do this in a vertical direction-resulting in increased velocity and friction and a greater displacement in the eduction pipe 3. Owing to well known laws, the flow at the point of contact between a gas or liquid and the walls of the passage is retarded, and water, being heavier than air, is retarded more by friction until it is pulled back around the bubble of air. I his bubble becomes elongated and at times slips through, joining the preced- ing bubble and leaving the water behind. This slippage represents loss of efficiency and is mani- fested by vari- ations in the plugging dis- charge. I Reasons for Low Efficiency 9