Keywords: mechanical well cleaning, atmospheric pressure, air-lifting method.

There are two kinds of mineral springs, namely, sulphur springs and carbonic acid springs [1]. Both have acidic water from sources with a stronger acidity. Metallic materials in an acidic environment may be corroded by acidic chemicals. Additionally, the high temperature of the hot springs will cause heat-expansion and cold-shrinkage in equipment. This is the main cause of damage to water pumps used in hot springs.

The air lifting method is one of the techniques used to pump water or clean wells [2]. This method first pumps air pressure into an exterior steel pipe. After reaching the desired pressure, the air control valve is opened to let the pressured air enter the well bottom [3]. The pressure pumps out water together with sediments through a small pipe within the exterior pipe. This paper first introduces the theoretical principles and discusses the shortcomings that are encountered at present with the mechanical design, and then a modified design is presented to ensure steady operation.

Although modified water pumping with the air lifting method is not popular at present, the ease of operation, reduced damage on pumping facilities by deteriorating substances in the water, and the long lifespan of the pump equipment have received attention from many owners of hot spring businesses [4]. The spring pumping (sulfuric spring in particular) facility adopted by a certain hot spring hotel in the Beitou District of Taipei City has not experienced any problems up until now. In addition, since air is added during the pumping process for the air lifting method, a large amount of air is provided into the well. This indirectly promotes the value of the dissolved oxygen in underground water in the aquifer, which helps the decomposition of organic pollutants and is even more beneficial for the removal of evaporative and organic substances. The result is that the oxygen content of the water source in the well is enhanced and the lifetime of using the well is extended indirectly.

1

H.K. Peng, "Experiment and theory of air-lifted artificial up-welling", Doctoral dissertation, Marine Institute, National Taiwan University, 1999.

2

K.M. Ku, "A fundamental study on feasibility of applying air-lifted pump on fish pumps", Mater thesis, Marine Institute, National Taiwan University, 2002.

3

C.C. Yu, "Experiment of air-lifted artificial up-welling in density-stratified fluid", Mater thesis, Marine Institute, National Taiwan University, 1999.

4

W.L. Chang, J.C. Wang, "Technical report on maintenance and management of underground water wells in Taiwan", pp 85-87, 1999.

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