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WATER RAISING BY COMPRESSED AIR.

Iu view of the probability of a loan proposal in connection with the installation of a water supply and drainage system for the borough in which the compressed air method of raising the water from the wells to the tower will be recommended, being again placed before the ratepayers the tollowing article by Mr Chenery Suggate, M.1.C.E., on this method of raising water should be of interest :

About the year 1846, one, Crockfod, is credited with making experiments in lifting water by means of air ; he employed the method, with more or less success, in lifting petroleum from American oil-wells. Since that time this great discovery has been little used, although several large installations on this system are working well iu America. The plant consists of: (1) A bore pipe, of required size, driven down to the underground water supply; (2) any means of power to actuate a compressor which shall lift the water into a surface tank ; and (3) any approved pump to force the water to the required tank or reservoir. With this simple arrangement, water can be raised from any required depth of underground water supply, and where circumstances admit, the force pump may be dispensed with, and a second air-lift substituted. Some time ago, the writer studied the question minutely, and conducted a number of experiments proving (i) that the depth of air-pipe, size of bore, and pressure of air must be in a certain ratio to the depth of the water below ground surface, the height of which it has to be forced, and the quantity to be delivered; (2) that, when these are in the correct proportion, the only limit to the quantity of water raised is the capacity of the supply underground; and (3) that the water can be delivered at an infinitestimally small cost—a mere fraction of the cost of any other known method of raising water. Very much less power is needed to compress air to the required amount than would be necessary for lifting the same quantity of water to a corresponding height in any other way. This is proved on a large scale by two town installations just completed by the writer. One, at Pukekohe, has been working in a very satisfactory manner for some months past, throwing 9,000 to 10,000 gallons per hour. In the other case; at Frankton Junction, although the ultimate plant is not quite finished, the tests made with a temporary plant gave 9,000 to to,ooo gallons per hour for many days’ continuous running, a supply sufficient for a town of 4,000 to 5,000 inhabitants, and at a minimum cost per 1,000 gallons. The theory of the system is this : when, under certain' coilditions, air is forced into a bore pipe of water, alternate layers of air and water are formed ; the air layer acts as a piston, forcing up the layer of water above it; as the air piston ascends, the water above it finds egress at the prepared outlet, the pressure continually decreases, and the air piston expands; this expansion of volume increases the speed of the column of water above, until air and water together escape at the outlet with considerable force. Each piston of air acts, of course, in a similar way, and thus a continuous flow of water is secured. For convenience in rehandling it is advisable to allow the rising water to flow into a surface tank, of say one hour’s pumping capacity, from which the water will be taken in the usual way, by a force pump of suitable size and form, or by a second airlift arrangement. In pumping water from great depths in the ordinary way, all engineers realise the great cost of excavation and the uncertainty in action, especially where the water fluctuates in depth; in some cases the writer has known the water level to rise 30 to 40 feet within a short time of the stopping of the pump. This necessitates continuous pumping, or else heavy expense in other ways—for such a variation , would ruin any pumping plant. But with the air system just described, a variation of water level makes no difference ; the submerged parts are not subjected to any friction, and are not affected by any fatty water, which is so fatal to ordinary pumps. The heavy expense and uncertainty involved in the sinking of large and deep wells, and the erection of costly machinery, are now obviated ; one or more bore pipes take the place of the large

well, at a mere fraction of its cost. The water is handled on the surface of the ground, under the most favourable hygienic conditions ; the water raised by the airlift is well aerated, and so more palatable and healthy to drink. The system is very suitable for town and public supplies. One compressor can work any number of bores. Thus at Pukekohe, where one bore did not deliver sufficient water, a second was made some distance away, both being worked by the same compressor.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19130320.2.25

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1078, 20 March 1913, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
837

WATER RAISING BY COMPRESSED AIR. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1078, 20 March 1913, Page 4

WATER RAISING BY COMPRESSED AIR. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1078, 20 March 1913, Page 4

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