Geotech PRS User manual

Rev 3/17/2017 Part # 26600008
Geotech Product
Recovery System
Installation and Operation Manual

1
Table of Contents
DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS.......................................................2
Section 1: System Description..............................................................3
Function and Theory ......................................................................................... 3
Specific Gravity and Viscosity Limitations......................................................... 4
System Components......................................................................................... 4
Section 2: System Installation.............................................................10
Planning Your PRS Installation.......................................................................10
Install Control Panel ........................................................................................10
Install the Pump and Skimmer to the well....................................................... 10
Section 3: System Operation...............................................................13
Section 4: System Maintenance..........................................................14
Weekly Maintenance.......................................................................................15
Monthly Maintenance ...................................................................................... 15
Quarterly Maintenance.................................................................................... 16
Yearly Maintenance......................................................................................... 16
Cleaning the Skimmer and Intake Screen....................................................... 16
Conditioning the Intake Screen.......................................................................16
Bladder Replacement...................................................................................... 16
Section 5: System Troubleshooting....................................................18
Section 6: System Specifications........................................................20
Section 7: System Schematic..............................................................23
Section 8: Replacement Parts List......................................................24
The Warranty........................................................................................33

2
NOTE
DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS
This uses the following conventions to present information:

An exclamation point icon indicates a WARNING of a situation
or condition that could lead to personal injury or death. You
should not proceed until you read and thoroughly understand the
WARNING message.
WARNING
CAUTION
A raised hand icon indicates CAUTION information that relates to
a situation or condition that could lead to equipment malfunction
or damage. You should not proceed until you read and thoroughly
understand the CAUTION message.
A note icon indicates NOTE information. Notes provide additional
or supplementary information about an activity or concept.

3
Section 1: System Description
Function and Theory
The Geotech Product Recovery System (PRS)
efficiently collects free-floating hydrocarbons in
2” (5 cm) or larger recovery wells. The system
consists of a stainless steel bladder pump, an
attached Skimmer with floating intake cartridge
(or buoy), a control panel that can be mounted
indoors or out, an optional Tankfull Shut-off
Sensor, air and discharge lines, and an
optional air compressor.
The PRS’ unique product intake assembly, or
Skimmer, incorporates both a density float and
an oleophilic/hydrophobic filter that
differentiates between floating hydrocarbons
and water. The intake assembly follows the
water table fluctuations and places the screen
at the water/product interface, skimming light
product (such as gasoline or diesel fuel) down
to a sheen within the range of the float travel.
As the system cycles, product is drawn
through the intake screen and is transferred to
the pump through a coiled hose and the
Skimmer’s transfer shaft. Optional Heavy Oil
and High Temperature Skimmers, using intake
buoys, are also available to recover product in
4” (10 cm) diameter and larger wells.
The Product Recover System Control Panel
regulates the system and features two timers,
which vary the cycle time and flow rate of the
Skimmer pump. The control panel also
contains a level control valve (to which the
Tankfull Shut-off Sensor connects) that will
shut off the pump when the recovery tank is
filled.
The automatic stainless steel bladder pump has a two-phase pumping cycle. During the
first phase, or “pump intake”phase, pressurized air is vented from the pump, thus creating
a vacuum. This vacuum closes the top discharge check valve and opens the bottom
intake check valve, causing product to be drawn through the Skimmer’s product intake
assembly and into the pump.
During the second phase, or pump “discharge phase”, pressurized air is directed into the
pump bladder, causing it to expand within the pump body. This action closes the bottom
Figure 1-1: PRS Pump

4
intake check valve and opens the top discharge check valve, thus forcing the recovered
product from the pump up to the surface.
Specific Gravity and Viscosity Limitations
The specific gravity of the product to be recovered must be less than 1.0 and its viscosity
less than 50 SSU for use with the “light” oil filter, and 400 SSU for use with the “heavy” oil
filter cartridge. Consult Geotech for product recovery operations with viscosities outside
that range.
This type of filter technology is designed to be used in wells with free product of at least
1/8” (3 mm) thickness.
The presence of surfactants or detergents in the product requires careful application.
When handling these contaminants please consult Geotech.
System Components
Pump
The PRS utilizes an air driven bladder pump. The pump
consists of a stainless steel outer housing, top and
bottom check valves, and a flexible inner bladder. The
pump is designed for pumping liquids only; any solids
(silt, dirt, etc.) may reduce its performance or cause the
pump to malfunction.
Skimmer Attachments
A standard Skimmer attachment (when connected to the
stainless steel pump assembly) is designed for use in
either 2” (5 cm) diameter wells or 4” (10 cm) diameter
and larger wells. Figure 1-2 and 1-3 show an example of
the two most common Geotech Skimmers. These
Skimmers come with a standard 100-mesh intake
screen. A 60-mesh intake screen is also available for use
with higher viscosity fluids. See Geotech Manual
“Hydrocarbon Viscosity Test Kit” for more information on
choosing the correct intake cartridge.
The Skimmer assembly is connected to the bottom of the
stainless steel pump with a 6” (15 cm) piece of durable,
fuel grade hose. The Skimmer consists of a product
intake float, a coiled product transfer hose, and a transfer
shaft. Well centralizers are placed at the top and bottom
of the Skimmer shaft to protect the intake float and to
allow unobstructed travel within the well. To
accommodate water level fluctuations, standard 2”
Skimmers can provide 12” (30 cm) of intake travel and
standard 4” Skimmers can provide 16” (40 cm) of intake
travel.
Figure 1-2: PRS Pump
shown with 2” Skimmer
Assembly

5
A Skimmer assembly will not draw water unless the intake cartridge
is forcibly submerged, surfactants are present, or when the
“conditioning” of the intake screen has been removed. See Section
4: System Maintenance for information on rec-conditioning the
intake screen.
Figure 1-3: Standard 2” and 4” Skimmer Attachments

6
Heavy Oil Skimmer Attachment
The optional Heavy Oil Skimmer
attachment is designed to recover a
range of fluids from gasoline to gear oil,
skimming the product down to .01’ (3
mm) in 4” (10 cm) diameter and larger
wells. This option is best suited when
the viscosity of the hydrocarbon is
greater than the capability of the filter
screen technology (screen can no
longer pass the hydrocarbon fluid).
The Heavy Oil Skimmer consists of a
polypropylene intake buoy, a coiled
product transfer hose, and a transfer
shaft with well centralizers placed at the
top and bottom. The intake buoy on the
Heavy Oil Skimmer is designed to “ride”
at the oil water interface and has a
travel range of 24” (61 cm).
The intake buoy can also be “fine-
tuned” by adjusting the intake fitting on
the top of the buoy. Turning the fitting
clockwise will lower the intake fitting
relative to the product/water interface.
Turning the fitting counter-clockwise will
raise the intake fitting away from the
interface. Figure 1-4 is an example of a
Heavy Oil Skimmer assembly.
Figure 1-4: Heavy Oil Skimmer
Attachment (optional)

7
PRS System Control Panel (Optional)
The air-driven pump controller is the core component of the Product Recovery System.
The controller uses two timers to vary the pumping rate of the system, independently
controlling the discharge time and the recharge time of the pump. A clean, dry air source
that can deliver one cubic foot per minute (cfm) at 90 PSI (or .03 cmm at 6 bar) will
adequately allow the controller to drive one pump. Up to four pumps can be run from one
controller with a commercial air supply of at least 4 CFM (.11 CMM) at 90 PSI (6 bar).
The PRS Control Panel comes equipped with a Tankfull Shut-off feature. The Tankfull
Shut-off incorporates a manual reset button as an additional safety feature. When the
product recovery tank becomes full, the Tankfull Shut-off Sensor shuts off the system. The
system must be manually reset in order to resume operation.
The Tankfull indicator is green when the system is operational and is black when the
system is off. The recovery tank must be emptied and the control panel manually reset
before the system can be reactivated, and the indicator to show green.
Figure 1-5: PRS System Control Panel

8
Tankfull Shut-off Sensor (Optional)
The Tankfull Shut-off Sensor assembly (Figure 1-6) consists of a sensing tube that is
connected to the control with a sensor airline. The control needs to be within 50’ (15 m) of
the discharge tank.
When the product rises approximately 11”(28 cm) up the side of the sensing tube, the
level control valve within the control panel shuts off air supply to the pump. Once the tank
is drained, the system can be reset and resume normal operation.
Figure 1-6: Example of the Tankfull Shut-off Sensor (recovery tank not supplied)
Air Line and Discharge Hoses
Typically, conduit or 2” (5 cm) PVC pipe, buried below grade, should be used to protect
the air and discharge lines from damage. Failure to safeguard the air and discharge lines
may lead to uncontrolled pump discharge and/or compressor failure. The discharge port of
the pump accepts standard 1/4” NPT and 1/2” FPT pipe threads. Check government
regulations regarding fuel transmission lines before installation of product discharge lines.
The dimensions of airline and hose to the listed devices are as follows:
Compressor 3/8” O.D. x 50’ / 9.5mm x 15m
Pump Air Line 1/4” O.D. x 100’ / 6mm x 30m
Product Discharge Line 5/8” O.D. x 100’ / 16mm x 30m
Controller to Tank Full Shut off Sensor 1/4” O.D. x 50’ / 6mm x 15m