Aquifer recharge using natural energy

• US 4,248,305 A
• Filed: 03/12/1979
• Issued: 02/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerry L. Norris, Joe D. Hardin, William L. Scarbrough
• Original Assignee: Jerry L. Norris, Joe D. Hardin, William L. Scarbrough
• Inventors: Norris, Jerry L., Scarbrough, William L., Hardin, Joe D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US06/019,423
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 166/314, 166/305 R, 166/305 D, 166/306, 166/65 R, 166/52
• US Class Current: 166/305.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/00 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells applicable only to water E03B
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/20 Displacing by water
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells

Abstract

A system and method of moving near-surface water to a deep water aquifer at a high rate of transfer and with no external energy sources, and which additionally generates excess energy available for other uses. The system comprises at least one deep well into the deep aquifer and one or more shallow wells into a near-surface water table aquifer having siphon pipes from the shallow wells to the deep well. Siphon action is initiated resulting in a continuing flow of water from the shallow wells to the deep well. A water-driven turbine is disposed in the deep well above its tail water level and below the lower end of the siphon tubes. The water flow operates the turbine and the turbine shaft drives an external vacuum pump. Each shallow well has a closed top plate, and suction from the vacuum pump is applied through the top plate, holding the water level above its normal point increasing the draw down. An electrical generator is also coupled to the turbine shaft converting excess energy not required for driving the vacuum pump to externally available electrical energy.

Claims

1. A water transfer system for moving water from a shallow water aquifer to a deep water aquifer for recharging thereof or for dewatering surface soil areas, comprising:

a deep well communicating with the deep water aquifer;

at least one shallow source well communicating with the shallow water aquifer;

siphoning means between each of said source wells and said deep well for introducing water from the shallow water aquifer into said deep water aquifer; and

vacuum producing means connected to each of said source wells for increasing the water flow therefrom and for maintaining operation of said siphoning means.

2. The system defined in claim 1, which further comprises turbine means disposed in said deep well above the high water level of the deep water aquifer and arranged to cause such introduced water to flow therethrough thereby converting kinetic energy of the introduced water to available mechanical energy.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 in which said vacuum producing means is operatively connected to said turbine means for utilizing such available mechanical energy.

4. The system as defined in claim 2 which further comprises electrical generation means operatively connected to said turbine means for producing electrical energy from such available mechanical energy.

5. A water transfer system for moving water from a shallow water aquifer to a deep water aquifer for recharging thereof, or for dewatering surface soil areas, comprising:

a deep well communicating with the deep water aquifer;

a rotary water-driven turbine disposed slightly above the high water level of the deep water aquifer;

a vacuum pump operatively connected to the rotor of said turbine;

at least one shallow source well, in the vicinity of said deep well, communicating with the shallow water aquifer; and

siphoning means connecting each of said source wells to said deep well for transferring water from said source wells to said deep wells, said vacuum pump connected to each of said source wells so as to increase the flow of water from said source wells.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, which further comprises electrical generation means operatively connected to said turbine for producing electrical energy from mechanical energy output of said turbine.

7. A method of recharging a deep aquifer, dewatering soil areas, or the like, comprising the steps of:

drilling a deep well communicating with the deep aquifer;

providing water flow means from a near-surface water table aquifer into the deep well;

drilling at least one shallow source well in the vicinity of the deep well;

providing means for siphoning water from each of the source wells into the deep well;

installing a turbine above the water level in the deep well;

operating a vacuum pump from the turbine rotor;

connecting the vacuum pump to each of the source wells so as to provide a continuous vacuum operative thereon;

directing such siphoned water through the turbine, thereby causing the vacuum pump to produce a vacuum on the shallow well increasing the rate of water flow and maintaining the siphoning operation from each of the source wells into the deep well; and

connecting an electrical generator to be driven by the water driven turbine producing usable electrical energy from excess mechanical energy output from the turbine.

8. A method for moving water from a shallow water table aquifer to a deep aquifer for recharging the deep aquifer, for dewatering soil areas, or the like, comprising the steps of:

drilling a deep well into the deep water aquifer;

installing a water driven turbine above the water level in the deep well;

operating a vacuum pump from the turbine rotor;

drilling at least one shallow well into the shallow water table aquifer and in the vicinity of the deep well;

providing means for siphoning water from each of the shallow wells into the deep well;

connecting the vacuum pump to each of the shallow wells so as to provide a continuous vacuum thereon;

initiating siphoning of water from the shallow well into the deep well; and

directing such siphoned water through the water driven turbine thereby causing the vacuum pump to produce a vacuum on the shallow well increasing the rate of water flow and maintaining the siphon from the shallow well.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, comprising the additional step of adding an electrical generator operated by the water driven turbine thereby producing usable electrical energy from excess mechanical energy output from the turbine.