QED AutoPump AP-2, Operation Manual

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QED Environmental Systems
AP-2 Manual
Page 10
• Reduce air line freezing by burying air hoses below the frost line, or insulating
and heating with heat tape, or running hoses through a PVC pipe with warm air
being blown through it.
• Remove all the moisture you can from the air by using drains on the compressor,
filter, and low points in the air line. Use an air dryer to lower the dew point of
the compressed air below the temperature of exposed lines.
• Protect the air regulator from freezing. During freezing conditions regulators
may fail “open”, allowing high pressure (e.g. 150 psi from the compressor) to
enter components (e.g. gauges, hoses, fluid receptacles) that may be damaged,
cause a safety problem, or release contaminating material.
• Locate the air intake to the compressor so the coolest (driest) air is drawn in.
Usually it is better to draw air from outside a building than from the inside.
Flow induced freezing
Although it rarely occurs, air flow through an AutoPump may cause freezing internally at
water temperatures well above 32˚F, slowing down the system. Cold water, moisture in
the compressed air, high air pressure, a high pumping rate, and back pressure on the pump
are variables that alone, or in combination with each other, may induce freezing. Should
it occur, there are system adaptations which can decrease or eliminate the freezing. Please
contact QED for advice.
The well is under a vacuum
The pump will work in a well that is under a vacuum, but there several conditions that
must be considered.
(See Appendix D)
Abrasive particles in the well
Please contact QED service if you encounter problems with abrasives in the well.
Hard pipe air supply connection to the pump
These can cause debris and scale to travel down to the pump. It can also prevent the pump
from cycling smoothly due to a solid connection (non-flexing) to the top of the pump.
Blow out all of the hard pipe before connecting the pump. A short (6 feet) length of hose
should be used between the hard pipe and the pump to allow the natural movement of the
pump to occur without restraint. A small screen filter should be used at the lower end of
the metal air pipe to prevent scale from reaching the air valve.