Method and apparatus for regulating electrolyte solution level in a liquid rheostat

In a liquid rheostat operatively interconnected to a variable speed electric motor and a pump means for pumping liquid from a well, said liquid rheostat including an electrode compartment and an electrolyte solution reservoir, the improvement comprising:

• drain means for permitting solution in the compartment to be drained into the reservoir;
• conduit means interconnecting the reservoir and the compartment;
• a circulating pump driven by a second variable speed electric motor operable for circulating solution through said conduit means from the reservoir to the compartment;
• and
• control means operable for selectively regulating motor speed of said circulating pump in response to the amount of liquid in the well to thereby regulate solution level in the compartment.

A method for regulating electrolyte solution level in a liquid rheostat, said liquid rheostat being used in a system for pumping liquid from a well and including an electrode compartment interconnected by a conduit to an electrolyte solution reservoir comprising:

• circulating the solution through the conduit from the reservoir to the compartment by a motor-driven circulating pump;
• sensing liquid level in the well;
• and
• controlling the circulating rate of said circulating pump in response to changes in the amount of liquid in the well by controlling the motor speed of the circulating pump.