Air lift pump

A pump for use with a supply of working fluid and a supply of fluidic material having a density higher than that of the working fluid, the pump comprising:

• a vertically-extending conduit that, in use, is immersed in the supply of fluidic material, the vertically-extending conduit having a lower portion, an upper portion and an intermediate portion between the lower and upper portions, the intermediate portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the upper portions, the lower portion having a diameter D and the intermediate portion having a diameter d
• a lift arrangement including:
• an array containing N2 number of ports arranged over a length of the lower portion, each port of the array having a diameter E, further having a terminus at the lower portion and extending horizontally away from the terminus such that the working fluid is directed towards a center of the conduit;
• an injector having a terminus at the top of the intermediate portion and extending vertically downwardly such that the working fluid is directed vertically upwardly, the terminus of the injector being defined by a cylindrical groove having a thickness B;
• and
• an annular chamber surrounding the injector, having a length A and communicating with the injector through a row containing N1 number of apertures spaced a distance F from the junction of the transition portion and the intermediate portion and each having a diameter C;
• wherein when B, C, D, E and F are expressed in millimeters (mm):
• D is substantially between 25.4 mm and 203.2 mm,
• B is substantially equal to 0.521(D)0.296,
• C is substantially equal to 1.918(D)0.343,
• E is substantially equal to 0.521(D)0.296, and
• F is substantially equal to 0.321D−3.41.