LP Gas, January 2013
system runs and produces water only as the consumption rate dictates allowing the well to perform at full capacity and efficiency according to Harris Baker vice president of business development at Irving Texasbased Pinnacle Propane which has been assisting in marketing the product line It senses when the water table is not recharging at optimal rates and eliminates any fear of burning out submersible pumps Baker explains Accordingly it runs only when it needs to run fuel consumption is matched with the targeted water production By optimizing the wells production capacity the generator and pump run between 20 percent and 60 percent less yet produces the same or more amount of water The system has typically delivered a 125 percent rise in per day water production with a 30 to 60 percent reduction in fuel cost A 60 percent savings in fuel cost is massive says Baker noting that Pinnacle has POWER GENERATION supplied 17 of the units over the past year Were interested in selling propane so its a good deal Its a great product I dont know of any that have failed You dont have to change out the piping in the well Baker continues and its a great application for a forest service campground This is a terrific solution for them Sputtering diesels The cost of installing a dedicated solar system for water pumping applications can be prohibitive and stymied by cloudy days Maintaining a windmill is equally problematic It usually costs more by a good amount to repair a windmill than to buy a generator says Baker and Lisk cites the risks faced by the cowboys Windmills are dangerous to work on because youre way up there in the air hanging off a tower that is usually covered in oil But propanes biggest pluses are played out when the generators such as Generacs EcoGen are compared to diesel which has long been the primary pumping source on the range It is the nature of the beast that once you start a diesel generator it runs continuously until it runs out of fuel or sucks the well dry which will cause the pump to fail In ranch country the wells tend to have differing flow levels and they periodically need to recharge in accordance with the water table making mayhem when the diesel engine keeps on chugging along The water is trickling into the well at a certain rate says Lisk and we dont want the generator to start when theres no Continued on page 34 Remote Well Solutions takes well sites such as this pump jack system in southern New Mexico and replaces it with a fully automated propane system www LPGasmagazine com January 2013 LPGas 33
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