Category Archives: Solar Pumps

Case Studies, Electric Pumps, Solar Pumps

Apollo Solar, Electric Models Pump Through Iowa Winter

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A solar-powered top-head drive pump in a grassy area under a blue sky with scattered clouds. The setup includes a solar panel mounted on a metal frame and connected via hoses and pipes to the pump system anchored in the ground.
03
Jul

More methane, lower risks

Abstract

As the number of landfill gas-collection systems has grown, suboptimal methane production is a significant financial issue for many operators under contract to provide gas. Unrelated but noteworthy is the threat posed to nearby groundwater from fugitive leachate and subsurface gas migration. A third issue is the cost of providing electrical and/or pneumatic power to new or closed landfill cells, particularly at remote sites.

The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency (Agency), which serves Iowa’s second largest county, determined in 2011 that leachate was negatively impacting gas production. As an ameliorant, contracted engineers suggested reducing liquid levels in gas-collection wells using low-flow pumps and testing the viability of employing solar-powered pumping for efficiency and cost savings. The firm conducted a four-month test at a 30-acre cell at roughly 42º North latitude during the winter of 2011-2012.

As the number of landfill gas-collection systems has grown, suboptimal methane production is a significant financial issue for this farmer.

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Case Studies, Dewater Gas Wells with Solar, Solar Pumps

Solar Apollos Dewater Gas Wells At Old East Coast Superfund Site

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A construction site with solar panels installed on the ground features equipment for water piping, including a top-head drive pump and a control box connected to pipes. A small excavator is in the background. The area is grassy with bare trees in the distance.
03
Jul

Solar Apollos dewatering closed 1955 landfill that still generates smelly gas

Municipalities, counties responsible for thousands of closed sites

Apollo Solar Piston Pumps™ from Blackhawk Technology Company were the choice of a nationally respected engineering firm to remove groundwater and condensate from new gas-extraction wells at an East Coast landfill closed in the late 1970s after being designated a Superfund site.

Counties and municipalities across North America are responsible for thousands of closed landfills, often commissioned before the advent of effective liners. Old landfills can still generate methane, and many have remediation issues for seeping leachate.

Apollo Solar Piston Pumps™ from Blackhawk Technology Company were the choice of a nationally respected engineering firm to remove groundwater and condensate from new gas-extraction wells at an East Coast landfill closed in the late 1970s after being designated a Superfund site.

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Case Studies, Landfill Leachate, Remediation & Recovery, Solar Pumps, Solars vs Submersibles

Solars vs Submersibles

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An overhead view of a large cylindrical metal container housing complex industrial machinery with various components, wires, and tubes. A piece of white paper and a small blue and white tool sit at the bottom, adjacent to a top-head drive pump.
05
Apr

Solars Replace Submersibles to Keep Old Landfill Compliant In New Life as AZ City Park

The Paseo Vista Recreation Area is a big hill covered by boulders encased in sturdy wire and decorated with wildflowers. There’s a good chance the Chandler, Ariz., residents visiting the dog park, archery range and playground don’t know (or remember) that the mound was, for 30 years until 2005, the city landfill.

They certainly don’t see the four Apollo Solar Piston Pumps hidden in caissons and powered by unobtrusive low-rise solar panels behind a ridge, which help keep the closed site EPA compliant.

There’s a good chance the Chandler, Ariz., residents visiting the dog park, archery range and playground don’t know (or remember) that the mound was, for 30 years until 2005, the city landfill.

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Electric Pumps, News, Solar Pumps

Apollo Pump Now in Solar or AC

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A metal box labeled "Apollo" is attached to a pipe structure in a grassy field, seemingly part of a top-head drive pump system. An electrical control device is affixed to a pole nearby, connected by wires and an orange extension cord. The sky is clear with scattered clouds in the distance.
05
Apr

Simple & Reliable Top-Head Driver Outperforms With Choice of Power Sources

GLEN ELLYN, IL — Blackhawk Technology’s Apollo piston pumps – versatile and popular choices for landfill leachate, gas-well dewatering, condensate pump and low-flow remediation pumping – are now available with either solar-panel or AC-electric power configurations.

Both Apollo Solar and Apollo-AC pumps feature a rugged, low-draw 3/8 hp motor and simple linear-rod Scottish yoke mechanism with newly designed stuffing box and cartridge seals. As with all Blackhawk piston pumps, the driver motor, power and connections are mounted safely above the wellhead for easy installation and faster servicing at surface grade, cleanly away from the liquid being pumped.

Apollo piston pumps are versatile and popular choices for landfill leachate, gas-well dewatering, condensate pump and low-flow remediation pumping – are now available with either solar-panel or AC-electric power configurations.

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News, Solar Pumps

Compressing Matters

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A solar panel is mounted on a metal stand in the middle of a field, powering a top-head drive pump. The panel is connected to a control box and a small white pipe. The sky is clear and blue, and the surrounding area is covered with dry grass.
05
Apr

Looking at the use of compressed air with leachate and condensate pumps

By Mark Bertane

As seen in MSW Management Magazine

Talk with a seasoned landfill managing engineer about pneumatic power. Pneumatic was already on site when he or she arrived, pushing compressed air significant distances to make leachate and condensate pumps work.

Hardly unusual. It would be difficult to find a North American landfill that doesn’t rely on compressed air. Pneumatic is old-shoe technology – go-to because it is familiar, understood, almost comfortable.

Talk with a seasoned landfill managing engineer about pneumatic power. Pneumatic was already on site when he or she arrived, pushing compressed air significant distances to make leachate and condensate pumps work.

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