Flame jet drill

Technology for rock driling

A flame jet drill is a type of drilling equipment whereby there is no contact with the drilling surface, therefore the drill never wears down.

The tool expels an ultra hot hydrogen flame (~4000 °C)[1] which causes small inconsistencies in the rock to fracture and fly away and thus "drill" surface.

Another prototype drill called a Hydro Jet Drill is able to work in hot damp conditions by superheating water and spraying the rock with the fluid.

The devices were featured in a National Geographic documentary "MegaStructures: Deep Earth Drillers" about geothermal energy.[1]

References

  • freepatentsonline.com - Flame Jet Drill Patent
  • Flame Jet Drilling and Chambering to Great Depths in Crystalline Rock
  • US Patent 4066137
  • Journal of Mining Science
  1. ^ a b "National Geographic Channel Australia and New Zealand - Megastructures". Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. 080712 natgeotv.com.au List of National Geographic MegaStructures series.


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