Apparatus for passive removal of subsurface contaminants

Patent · 31 December 1996

OSTI ID:871011

Pemberton, Bradley E ^[1]; May, Christopher P ^[2]; Rossabi, Joseph ^[1]

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1. Aiken, SC
2. Fairfax, VA

An apparatus is provided which passively removes contaminated gases from a subsurface. The apparatus includes a riser pipe extending into a subsurface which has an exterior end in fluid communication with a valve. When well pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure, the valve opens to release contaminants into the atmosphere, and when well pressure is less than atmospheric pressure, the valve closes to prevent flow of air into the well. The valve assembly of the invention comprises a lightweight ball which is lifted from its valve seat with a slight pressure drop between the well and the atmosphere.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE SAVANNAH RIVER CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Inc. (Aiken, SC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5641245
• OSTI ID: 871011
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/405/166/588/
air
apparatus
assembly
atmosphere
atmospheric
atmospheric pressure
ball
closes
communication
comprises
contaminants
contaminated
contaminated gas
contaminated gases
drop
extending
exterior
flow
fluid
fluid communication
gases
lifted
lightweight
passive
passively
pipe
pressure
pressure drop
prevent
provided
release
removal
removes
riser
riser pipe
seat
slight
subsurface
subsurface contaminant
subsurface contaminants
surface contaminants
valve
valve assembly
valve seat