Water Lifted By Compressed Air
For Municipal, Manufacturing, Irrigation or Other Water Supply

Sometimes it is possible to employ an inclined pipe, as shown in Fig. 688, which illustrates a case where the horizontal discharge is over 400 feet, and the inclined pipe about 500 feet long. Another way, often used especially where a number of wells are to run into a com- ri mon reservoir, is to discharge there are but discharge the elevation t o barrel or enlarged verti- tion, from which it flows a pipe to a central reservoir from which it may then be forced directly into the service main, or to an elevated stand pipe or tank by either a piston pump driven by air or steam, or by a pneumatic dis- placement pump. In some cases where few wells, near together, it is simpler to Air Lift directly into a tank of sufficient give the desired pressure. Carry as Low Air Pressure as Possible. When running several wells together which require different air pressures, engineers sometimes put throttle valves on all the weils and in regulating them too finely raise the receiver pressure to a point far above that required to run the highest pressure well. All this excess pressure represents power thrown away, and the practice should not be allowed. It is in such cases necessary to have throttle valves on all the low pressure wells and to often have them nearly shut but the well that requires the highest pressure to operate it should be run with the valve wide open, or nearly so, and then the other wells regulated to take what air they need, forcing the rest of it to the high pressure well. An ordinary globe valve proves to be the best regulating valve except for very high pressures. Gate valves or plug cocks cannot be regulated as closely and cannot be so readily set at the same point after having been closed. A second globe valve may be used for stop- ping and starting, thus leaving the economical adjustment of the regu- lating valve undisturbed. The brief descriptions just given call attention to a few working combinations, but by no means exhaust the arrangements which can be made. They will suffice, however, to illustrate the wide ap- plicability of this means of raising water. If there is any question or uncertainty regarding your special ease we shall be glad to corre- spond with you and arrange for one of our experts to personally examine your property with an idea of advising and furnishing an estimate. 45