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ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT, GROUNDWATER SAMPLING TECHNOLOGIES, GEOLOG, INC., MICRO-FLO BLADDER PUMP MODEL 57400
Citation:
Einfeld, W. AND E N. Koglin. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT, GROUNDWATER SAMPLING TECHNOLOGIES, GEOLOG, INC., MICRO-FLO BLADDER PUMP MODEL 57400. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-00/075 (NTIS PB2003-106821), 2000.
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this task is to increase the acceptance and use of site characterization and monitoring technologies by providing verified performance data and reports on the performance of environmental monitoring and site characterization technologies.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created the Environmental Technology Verification Program to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved environmental technologies through performance verification and dissemination of information. The goal of the ETV Program is to further environmental protection by substantially accelerating the acceptance and use of improved and cost-effective technologies. ETV seeks to achieve this goal by providing high-quality, peer-reviewed data on technology performance to those involved in the design, distribution, financing, permitting, purchase, and use of environmental technologies.
The Micro-Flo bladder pump consists of an internal flexible bladder that is positioned within a rigid stainless steel pump body. The inner bladder is equipped with one-way inlet and outlet valves and passively fills with water when the pump is a depth in the well as a result of the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the surrounding water column. Following the fill cycle, compressed air or nitrogen from a cylinder or compressor at the wellhead is driven down to the pump through tubing to compress the bladder, thus driving the water sample up to the surface through a second tubing line. The pumping sequence consists of repeated fill-compress cycles, using a pneumatic controller positioned at the wellhead. The controller is used to vary the duration and frequency of the fill-compress cycles in order to deliver the desired sample flow rate at the wellhead. The bladder design offers the advantage of minimizing sample turbulence, which can result in loss of VOC in the sample, as well as eliminating contact of the water sample with the compressed air or nitrogen used to lift the sample to the surface.