Systems and methods for extracting and purifying water from groundwater sources

Abstract

Systems and methods for water extraction and purification are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system includes at least one water lifting unit that fluidly communicates with a groundwater source, and a gas generator that is fluidly coupled to the at least one water lifting unit to generate a gas that buoyantly moves water from the groundwater source to a water consumer.

1 . A groundwater pumping and purification apparatus, comprising:
 a pumping stack configured to fluidly communicate with a groundwater source at one end, and to provide purified water to a water consumer at an opposing end; and   a gas generation source coupleable to the pumping stack and configured to provide a gas to the pumping stack to buoyantly move the groundwater within the pumping stack, the gas including a water purification agent that purifies the water as the water is moved from the groundwater source to the water consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The groundwater pumping and purification apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the water purification agent comprises a water sterilization agent, further comprising at least one of ozone, chlorine, a compound of chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and a halide-based compound. 
     
     
         3 . The groundwater pumping and purification apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pumping stack comprises a plurality of water transfer units that are configured to extend from the groundwater source to the water consumer, the plurality of water transfer units defining a pumping path extending from the groundwater source to the water consumer. 
     
     
         4 . The groundwater pumping and purification apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pumping path comprises a first parallel pumping path and a second parallel pumping path, each of the first parallel pumping path and the second parallel pumping path extending from the groundwater source to the water consumer. 
     
     
         5 . The groundwater pumping and purification apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein one of the first parallel pumping path and the second parallel pumping path comprise a redundant pumping path. 
     
     
         6 . The groundwater pumping and purification apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pumping path comprises a plurality of serially-coupled water transfer units. 
     
     
         7 . A groundwater pumping apparatus, comprising:
 a pumping stack including at least one water transfer unit configured to fluidly communicate with a groundwater source at one end, and to provide purified water to a water consumer at an opposing end, the water transfer unit further comprising:   a water collector having a closed bottom that is configured to sealably retain a volume of water and having an open top;   a lift tube sealably extending into the volume through the closed bottom that is configured to transport water from the groundwater source into the volume; and   a gas source configured to provide a gas to the lift tube to buoyantly move the groundwater within the lift tube.   
     
     
         8 . The groundwater pumping apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gas source is configured to introduce a water purification agent into the water transported in the lift tube. 
     
     
         9 . The groundwater pumping apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the water purification agent comprises at least one of ozone, chlorine, a compound of chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and a halide-based compound. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a pumping stack configured to extend to a groundwater source and operable to buoyantly move water from the groundwater source to a water consumer, the pumping stack having a plurality of serially-coupled water lifting units, wherein a water lifting unit comprises:   a sealed water collector configured to retain a volume of water therein and exposed to an ambient atmosphere; and   at least one lift tube sealably extending through a lower portion of the water collector and configured to buoyantly lift the water into the water collector.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , comprising a gas source configured to be coupled to the at least one lift tube to buoyantly move the water within the lift tube. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the gas source is configured to introduce a water purification agent into the water transported in the lift tube, the water purification agent comprising at least one of ozone, chlorine, a compound of chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and a halide-based compound. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a gas generation source configured to provide a pressurized gas that includes a water purification agent;   at least one water lifting unit coupleable to the gas generation source and configured to extend from a groundwater source to a water consumer, the lifting unit further comprising:   a water collector configured to retain a volume of water and having a sealed bottom and an open top; and   at least one lift tube sealably extending through the sealed bottom of the water collector and configured to buoyantly lift the water into the water collector when the gas is introduced into the at least one lift tube.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the gas generation source is coupleable to a water purification unit that provides the water purification gas to the compressed gas, further wherein the water purification gas includes at least one of ozone, chlorine, a compound of chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and a halide-based compound. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising a power supply coupleable to the gas generation source that provides energy to the gas generation source, the power supply including at least one of a storage battery, a photovoltaic device, an electrical generator and a fuel cell. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising a gas emitter positioned within the lift tube that is configured to introduce the gas into the lift tube. 
     
     
         17 . A method of extracting and purifying water recovered from a groundwater source, comprising:
 extending at least one water lifting unit to the groundwater source;   providing a compressed gas to the at least one water lifting unit that includes a predetermined concentration of a water purification agent; and   buoyantly transporting and purifying water as the water moves upwardly from the groundwater source to a water consumer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein extending at least one water lifting unit to the groundwater source comprises:
 coupling a water collector configured to retain a volume of water to at least one lift tube configured to buoyantly lift the water into the water collector, the sealed water collector having a sealed bottom portion and an open top portion; and   distributing the compressed gas to the at least one lift tube through a gas emitter positioned within the at least one tube.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing a compressed gas to the at least one water lifting unit comprises providing at least one of ozone, chlorine, a compound of chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and a halide-based compound. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein extending at least one water lifting unit comprises providing one of a parallel water lifting path and a serial water lifting path.