Siphon Water with
Compressed Air
Someone posted a question in CR4 (Chat Room 4
Engineers) about siphoning water from an existing
well to the surface and letting it flow downhill to
an irrigation pond. The water level was 73 feet from
the surface in a 6 inch diameter well casing that
extended down 138 feet into the well from the
surface. Most agreed that it could not be done and
suggested a pump of one style or another. Exuberant
corrections and contradictions helped clarify a
technique that most condemned until we posted a
diagram. A picture is said to worth a thousand
words.
CONDITIONS
Elevation of well head is 1382 feet.
Elevation of water in well casing is 1309 feet, (73
feet below the surface).
Elevation of pond is 1250 feet.
RESTRAINTS
In a
perfect vacuum at sea level water can be lifted 33.9
feet.
At
1382 feet the atmospheric pressure is approximately
14 psia. Theoretically Water will siphon 32.3 feet.
To be
conservative use 25 feet for siphon lift. Then with
73 feet, surface to water less 25 feet siphon
capability we need to lift 48 feet.
REMEDIES
Cap
the well casing.
Add a
central (Pick-Up) tube through the cap that extends
136 feet or more down through the well casing.
Add a
pressure port through the cap (eg.1/4” FPT).
Connect compressed air or gas regulated to 25 psig
to the well cap pressure port.
Draw a
vacuum or fill a hose with water and produce a
siphon affect.
