Method and system for directing fluid flow
AssigneeR3 Pump Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael J. Harrington, Jeffery Dean Rabe, David Alan Nickel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas/liquid pump moves liquid by passing gas up through it. Pumping is accomplished by the liquid's moving through three conduits. The first, a collector conduit, transports the liquid to the bottom of the unit. The second, a gas-lift conduit, mixes the liquid and gas at the bottom and transports the mixture upwards, owing to the rising action of the bubbles and the resulting decreased density of the gas/liquid mixture. At the top of the gas-lift conduit, some of the gas escapes from the liquid and out of the unit. The lifted liquid then returns to near its original density and exits the unit through the down and out conduit.
Claims31
A method for creating a fluid flow path, comprising:
- providing a first containment region fluidly connected to a second containment region, the first containment region having an inlet that receives a fluid;
- injecting pressurized gas into the second containment region at a rate to cause the fluid in the second containment region to rise higher than the inlet;
- removing gas from the second containment region;
- and
- providing a third containment region fluidly connected to the second containment region, wherein the third containment region includes an outlet.
A method for removing contaminants from groundwater, comprising:
- providing a borehole extending from the ground surface into the saturated zone;
- providing a casing within the borehole, the casing having a lower fluid-permeable section below the water table and an upper fluid-permeable section at the water table;
- providing a groundwater remediation system that includes three separate chambers, a first chamber including an inlet and fluidly connected to a second chamber, a second chamber including a gas supply line for injecting gas into the chamber wherein the second chamber is fluidly connected to a third chamber, wherein treated water exits an outlet in the third chamber at a distal end of the remediation system from the inlet.
An apparatus for in situ decontamination of a contaminated groundwater, comprising:
- a collector conduit, the collector conduit having a proximal and distal end, the proximal end having at least one opening to allow fluid to flow therein,
- a gas-lift conduit in fluid communication with the collector conduit,
- a pump for pumping a gas into the gas-lift conduit, and
- a return conduit in fluid communication with the gas-lift conduit, the return conduit further including an outlet port at an end distal to the proximal end of the collector conduit.
A system for decontamination contaminated groundwater in situ, comprising:
- a borehole having a bottom elevation below a water level of the contaminated groundwater;
- a first housing positioned within the borehole, the first housing having an inlet, wherein the inlet is positioned below the water level;
- a second housing positioned within the borehole in fluid communication with the first housing;
- a third housing positioned within the borehole and in fluid communication with the second housing
- a diffuser for dispersing a gas into the second housing such that a density differential in the water of the second housing creates a convection flow within the decontamination system, wherein the convection flow causes fluid within the first housing to he drawn downwards.
A system for creating a fluid flow path, comprising:
- an apparatus comprising:
- a collector conduit having a first and a second end, the first end having at least one opening to allow fluid to flow into the collector conduit,
- a gas-lift conduit fluidly connected to the collector conduit, and
- a return conduit fluidly connected with the gas-lift conduit, the return conduit including at least one outlet port at an end distal to the first end of the collector conduit, wherein the at least one opening is higher in elevation than the at least one outlet port;
- and
- a pump configured to pump a gas into the gas-lift conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.