Barometric pumping is a remediation technique that removes volatile contaminants from soil in the vadose zone, above the water table.
At Washington Savannah River Company (WSRC), scientists have developed a control valve that increases the efficiency of barometric pumping.
The BaroBall™ control valve allows natural soil gas to flow out of an underground well, while restricting airflow from the surface into the well. Air flowing into the well from the surface will dilute and possibly spread contaminants still present in the subsurface.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent No. 5,641,245 and 6,425,298 on the BaroBall valve.
WSRC invites interested companies with proven capabilities in this area of expertise to enter into a licensing agreement with WSRC to manufacture and market this device as a commercial product.
More info: John Olschon, License Executive Savannah River National Laboratory, (803) 725-0848, john.olschon@srnl.doe.gov
