Abstract: An apparatus of removing substances from horizontal wells drilled from a surface comprises: a casing, a tubing disposed within the casing, a downhole pump connected to an end of the tubing, and a production conduit attached to the downhole pump. The apparatus has a gas containing section of the well that leads to the production conduit. The gas containing section is configured to accumulate a first predetermined volume of gas. An annular space is formed by the casing, tubing and production conduit. A first one-way valve is disposed within the production conduit and that leads to the annular space. A first vessel contains a working fluid. The first vessel is in fluid communication with the first one way valve.

Abstract: A production tubing is disposed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone. The production tubing extends from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole location at which hydrocarbons entrapped in the subterranean zone enter the wellbore. Multiple valves are disposed in the production tubing at respective multiple tubing locations. Each valve is configured to permit one-way flow of hydrocarbons in an uphole direction. The multiple valves divide the production tubing into multiple stages. A stage is a portion of the production tubing between two successively disposed valves. Multiple gas injection valves are coupled to the production tubing and are disposed in a respective stage. A controller, coupled to the multiple valves and the multiple gas injection valves, transmits signals to the multiple valves and the multiple gas injection valves to lift hydrocarbons flowed into the wellbore at the downhole location to the surface on a stage-by-stage basis.

Abstract: A pump equipped with a plurality of systems includes a first system and a plurality of second systems, each of the plurality of systems containing an enclosed gas placed in contact with an internal liquid, it being possible for the enclosed gas to be placed at a depressed pressure or at a raised pressure in relation to the pressure of surroundings external to the system by variations in level of the liquid. The respective liquid environments of the plurality of systems are connected continuously so that compression or depression of the gas enclosed in the first system leads to successive variations in the levels of liquid in the second systems following successive applications of raised pressure or depressed pressure to the gases contained in the plurality of systems so as to allow the pumping of an external liquid in contact with the internal liquid of one of the systems.

Abstract: An artificial lift system for use with a subterranean well can include a cylinder having a piston reciprocably disposed therein, the piston having opposing sides, one side being selectively communicable with a hydraulic pressure source and a hydraulic reservoir, and the other side being selectively communicable with the hydraulic pressure source and at least one accumulator, and the accumulator being selectively communicable with an input side of a pump of the hydraulic pressure source. A method of controlling an artificial lift system can include connecting a cylinder to a hydraulic pressure source including a hydraulic pump, the pump being connected between the cylinder and at least one accumulator, the accumulator being connected to a gas pressure source, and operating a gas compressor of the gas pressure source, thereby increasing hydraulic pressure applied to the pump from the accumulator.

Abstract: An artificial lift system for use with a subterranean well can include a cylinder having a piston reciprocably disposed therein, the piston having opposing sides, each of the opposing sides being selectively communicable with a hydraulic pressure source and a hydraulic reservoir, and the piston having another side in communication with a gas pressure source, and the gas pressure source including a gas compressor connected between gas containers. A method of controlling an artificial lift system can include connecting a cylinder to a hydraulic pressure source and to a gas pressure source, operating a gas compressor of the gas pressure source, thereby increasing gas pressure applied to the cylinder from the gas pressure source, and displacing a piston, thereby operating a downhole pump.

Abstract: A system is provided to control fluid flow in a wastewater treatment system through wastewater level manipulation. The wastewater treatment system may include a wastewater treatment plant connected to a plurality of pump stations by a main. Each of the plurality of pump stations may include a wet well with a pump therein. The system may include a central server in communication with a sensor to sense a level of wastewater within the wet well. The pump may be automatically moved to an on position when the level of the wastewater in the wet well is at or above a first level and may be automatically moved to an off position when the level of the wastewater in the respective wet well is at or below a pump cutoff level. The central server may systematically manipulate the first level to selectively set the level of wastewater within the wet well.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted bilge pump small enough for the crowded spaces below decks in the engine and pump room of a boat which can also function as a transfer pump, a crash pump and a fire extinguisher. The pump comprises two chambers and is internally configured to aid in the separation of gas and liquid increasing pump throughput.

Abstract: Reductions in energy consumption and maintenance requirements for operating a wastewater treatment plant are achieved by controlling the operation of pumps at pump stations along a force main in a systematic fashion. The operation of the pumps is controlled to manage the flow of wastewater along the force main to minimize energy consumption, to eliminate sediment, to manage peak pressures encountered by smaller pumps and to avoid septic conditions.

Abstract: A micro-pump for atomizing and including a main-housing, a nozzle plate, at least an actuator, and a liquid transport pipe is provided. The main-housing has a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, an air inlet, and a micro-droplet outlet. The nozzle plate is assembled to the main-housing and has at least one nozzle. The nozzle plate divides the interior of the main-housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. The nozzle and the liquid inlet are connected with the first chamber. The air inlet, the liquid outlet, and the micro-droplet outlet are connected with the second chamber. The actuator is disposed on at least one of the main-housing or the nozzle plate. The actuator drives the nozzle plate, so that liquid is filled into the first chamber and sprayed out through the nozzle into the second chamber. The liquid transport pipe connects the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet.

Abstract: Pumps for Steam Condensates and other Liquids, include receivers that may be connected firstly to the liquid source, and after filling are then pressurised to discharge the liquid to a transfer line, or to a vessel at a higher pressure than that of the source. The use of a small pilot valve to detect the liquid level, mounted externally to each receiver, and controlling the opening and closing of the pressurising and venting valves, enables an unusually low profile to be achieved.

Abstract: Liquid raising systems raise liquid from a system inlet to a system outlet without any moving parts below the system outlet. One or more closed cells are disposed at elevations between the system inlet and outlet. A liquid conduit leads from the bottom of each cell to the top of the next downstream cell. Gas pressure-differential between two next-adjacent cells causes liquid to flow through the liquid conduit to the next cell. The pressure-differential need be only enough to move the liquid between adjacent cells. The cells are cyclically filled and emptied by sequentially applying the gas at higher and lower pressures to adjacent cells, thus progressively moving liquid toward the system outlet. A cell can have a variety of shapes and sizes, so long as the cell gas inlet is above the liquid inlet, and the liquid outlet is below both the liquid inlet and the gas inlet.

Abstract: A fluid pumping system includes a number of stages. Each stage has a fluid chamber having a top end with an air aperture and a bottom end with a fluid apertures. An air line is connected to the air aperture, and a fluid input conduit, with an input check valve, is connected to the fluid aperture. A float valve is disposed in the chamber directly between the fluid aperture and the air aperture. A fluid output conduit is connected to the fluid aperture above the input check valve. The float has a bottom end adapted to seal with the fluid aperture when the chamber is empty. A first set of pumping stages are supplied by a first compressed air line and a second set of pumping stages are supplied by a second compressed air line. Periodically, compressed air is supplied to a first set of pump stages to drive fluid from each of the first set of pump stages to a second set of stages, and vice versa.

Abstract: A multi-stage liquid elevator which is assembled from individual stages is a fabricated from ordinary pipe components and has no moving parts. Each elevator stage consists of a reservoir defined by a casing enclosing an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. A coupling connects any two stages of the elevator together. As many stages as required can be joined together to construct a multi-stage liquid elevator of any desired length. Each stage is fabricated to a length compatible with the available gas pressure. Enough pressure must be available to move a column of liquid a vertical distance equal to or greater than the length of one stage of the elevator.

Abstract: A process and system are provided for forming and transporting precise small volumes of liquid samples by means of controlled gas pressures. As the controlled gas pressures are changed at a multiplicity of control points in the fluid circuit, transitions take place involving the transport of small liquid samples. This transport is arrested by the geometry of the fluid circuit to produce a new state, which state remains stable until another transition is initiated by a change in the multiplicity of controlled gas pressures. Various combinations of control elements are described for effecting formation of fixed liquid volumes, transporting, mixing, and removing entrained bubbles from small liquid samples.

Abstract: The multi-chamber liquid pump of the present invention includes an input chamber, an intermediate chamber and a liquid output chamber. Pressurized gas provides the motive force for outputting liquid from the pump, such that liquid is output at a constant flow rate during pump operation. Liquid flows into the input chamber, through one or more valves into the intermediate chamber, and through one or more subsequent valves to the output chamber while liquid is constantly output from the output chamber. The system controller provides control signals to the valves to facilitate the pump's continual operation.

Abstract: A water pumping system includes a solar collector assembly having a plurality of solar collectors containing a heat transfer medium therein. A circulating tube is mounted in an insulated housing and communicates with the solar collectors for conveying the heat transfer medium to circulate therethrough such that water received in the insulated housing is evaporated to vapor by means of the heat transfer medium. A receiver is provided for receiving the vapor created in the insulated housing therein. A pressure chamber communicates with the water source for conveying water contained in the water source into the pressure chamber. A conduit communicates between the pressure chamber and the receiver for conveying the vapor received in the receiver into the pressure chamber so as to force water contained in the pressure chamber into the container via a conveying tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous perfusion of a liquid in cell culture, hydroponic and breeding processes includes a container having a sealed lower portion and an open upper portion, a hollow tube having an upper end in the open upper portion and a lower end in the sealed lower portion of the container for introducing liquid to be perfused into the sealed lower portion, a blast pipe for introducing perfusing gas into the sealed lower portion of the container, and a hollow U-shaped pipe extending from above the sealed lower portion of the container and thereinto. The relative positioning of the ends of the hollow tube and hollow pipe at a particular height differential provides for a piston like movement of air and liquid to perfuse the liquid without requiring any electricity or motors.

Abstract: In a device for elevating liquids a heat exchanging vessel to be neated by an exterior source of heat is connected with a discharge pipe arranged to elevate doses of liquid, so that for performing a thermodynamic cycle the liquid to be elevated is used as a working medium, the liquid is introduced into the heat exchanger after an end or before a beginning of each thermodynamic cycle in a quantity which does not exceed a quantity required for one thermodynamic cycle and is heated in the heat exchanger, and issuance of the elevated liquid is performed under the action of pressure difference which acts on the discharge pipe and which has a value not exceeding a value of pressure difference which elevates a dose of liquid.

Abstract: A well bore is provided with novel and improved apparatus for practice of an improved method for recovery of liquids from the well wherein a quantity of liquid is elevated by repeated discrete steps upwardly through the well bore under the impetus of gas pressure with the size of the elevation steps being determined by the magnitude of gas pressure available in the well and wherein each level or step in the well is substantially continuously exposed to ambient atmospheric pressure whereby no substantial resistance to the stepwise upward flow of liquid is encountered.

Abstract: An air lift pump delivers liquid from a sump to an elevated tundish. The tundish is divided by weirs into a plurality of compartments in cascade. Surplus liquid overflows from the upper compartments back to the sump to produce a constant depth in the lowest compartment. A second air lift pump operating at a predetermined immersion depth delivers a steady flow of liquid from the lowest compartment.

Abstract: A pipe for elevating a liquid by liquid portions separated by gas gaps has a plurality of passages each having an inner diameter selected so as to form a stable meniscus film at the borders between the liquid portions and the gas portions and each having a plurality of successively arranged wall portions wettable and non-wettable by the liquid.

Abstract: A milk pumping system used in vacuum milking installations for the purpose of withdrawing the milk that is in a vacuum milk receiver that is under constant vacuum, in cases wherein the milk must be pumped to a higher and more remote bulk tank that is under atmospheric pressure. For this purpose a milk releaser provided with a float is connected to the outlet of the vacuum milk receiver, and, when the milk releaser is filled up with milk, the float acts through a linkage to close a vacuum line connecting the first milk releaser to the vacuum milk receiver and establish a communication with the external atmosphere.

Abstract: A system for the collection and storage of energy, wherein compressed air from any source is utilized to make a fully automatic, sequential series of chamber-to-chamber blow-type vertical water lifts to an elevated water storage reservoir. Potential energy stored in the reservoir is extracted by means of an hydraulic air compressor located below the reservoir and functioning by virtue of the resultant pressure head.

Abstract: A well pump for use in oil wells, and the like, consisting of a series of cylinders connected by a production tubing and an air circulation system having two conduits extending into the casing-tubing annulus, each cylinder having an inlet connection through the top thereof and into one of said lines, alternately, so that every other cylinder is in the same line, and a four way valve in a control box at the well head, operated by an electric motor for alternating the flow of air through the respective conduits into the cylinders, the production tubing forming a dip tube in each cylinder, and check valves at the lower ends of each cylinder to prevent backflow, the bottom cylinder being the control cylinder having a fluid level controlled switch which activates the pump, sending a charge of air into the respective cylinders, lifting the production fluid therein progressively to the earth's surface.

Abstract: A device for transmitting sea water from a lower level to a higher level by means of sea surge striking the intake pipe to generate air pressure in a sealed chamber and to cause the water therein to be transmitted upwards into the next higher sealed chamber. The sea water is finally lifted to a reservoir at a given elevation.

Abstract: A device using only steam to simultaneously heat and pump a liquid or a slurry to a high pressure is disclosed, which device does not employ any rotating or reciprocating mechanisms commonly employed in the conventional pumping machinery. The combined use of steam for the simultaneous heating and pumping enables the outstanding device to utilize 100 percent of the steam supplied to the device in either pumping or heating. The simple structure and operational principle of said device results in particularly low capital cost and trouble-free operation.

Abstract: A fluid lifting apparatus operable by air pressure applied alternately to first and second pairs of cylinders each of said cylinders having a main body part, a barrel and a bottom chamber in communications with a bottom inlet. Pressuring of the main body part of the chamber, closes a check valve at the inlet and forces fluid from the main body part, through a fluid flow valve, through the chamber and up the barrel to a production tubing segment and hence to the next higher cylinder. Emptying of the main chamber closes the fluid flow valve to prevent air from the production tubing. However, the valve is positively opened once fluid flow in the bottom chamber from the inlet is reinstituted. Air vent means to the surface and/or to the well annulus rapidly depressurizes the cylinders and hence speeds cycling between the alternate cylinder pairs.