The Sullivan Air Lift Pumping System

Typical arrangement of Sullivan Air Lift, including pump, booster, elevated tank and compound lift is placed across the tank to prevent surging. The end of the discharge leading from the booster extends down from the top,or the side near the top, to within a short distance of the bottom, so that the pressure upon the 2 ? 8 i i? e o 1 surface of the water forces it directly into the discharge with the least amount of friction. Immediately over the discharge from the well, is constructed a manhole and a removable plate that carries the umbrella. With the standard pump, this plate can be removed and a temporary connection made to the well discharge for back-blowing and cleaning the well, with- out removing the booster, keeping it free from sand or drillings. 'I'he Central Pump and air line, when this installation is used, are installed through this opening after the booster is in place and sus- pended in the eduction pipe by means of the manhole plate, which affords an easy means of raising or lowering the pump without dis- turbing any other part of the equipment. The vent valve is a circular slide valve made of bronze and operated by the water in the booster, through the use of a diving bell, non-leaking float and rod; and is adjusted from the outside by means of a spring under a cap in order to maintain the necessary pressure to force the water to the required head. The principle involved in the operation of the booster is as follows: The velocity of water and air in an air lift is always greatest as it nears the point of discharge. This is demonstrated by the force of the discharge into the atmosphere. By discharging into a closed tank, the kinetic energy of the column of water and air under arrested