High Pressure Fluid Jet Drill Head for Geothermal Boreholes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drilling systems for geothermal energy production are costly and limited by the need for large upfront capital investment, requiring high-temperature gradients and resulting in inefficient energy production and limited availability of installation sites.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure fluid jet drill head system that uses a body with an outflow channel and a piston, along with pressurized fluid flow channels and nozzles, to efficiently drill boreholes by ejecting fluid at high velocity and returning debris through a dedicated channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drilling systems are used, then geothermal energy can be produced, but the system requires large upfront capital investment and excessive drilling forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical drilling systems with a fluid jet drilling system that uses high-pressure water jets to erode and remove rock material. The drilling mechanism substitutes mechanical rotation and impact with fluid dynamic pressure and erosion, eliminating the need for complex mechanical drill bits and reduction gears, thereby reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining geothermal energy production capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs hydraulic principles by using high-pressure fluid jets as the primary drilling mechanism. The system utilizes fluid pressure and flow to cut through rock formations, with the drill head containing multiple nozzles that喷射 high-velocity water streams. This hydraulic approach replaces traditional mechanical drilling forces with fluid-based erosion and removal processes
2Productivity
If conventional drilling systems are used, then drilling can be performed, but large diameter boreholes are required with excessive drilling forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical drilling forces with fluid jet erosion. Instead of using rotational torque and axial pressure to mechanically break rock, the system uses high-velocity fluid streams that erode material through hydraulic pressure and cavitation effects, dramatically reducing the mechanical forces and torque required for drilling
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the drilling mechanism from mechanical force application to fluid pressure and velocity application. By adjusting fluid pressure, flow rate, and nozzle configuration, the system optimizes material removal efficiency while minimizing the mechanical forces transmitted to the drill string and borehole walls
3Reliability
If conventional drilling systems are used, then geothermal energy can be extracted, but the system over pressurizes the borehole and requires large upfront capital investment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressing and ramming operations with fluid jet erosion, eliminating the need to apply excessive mechanical pressure to advance the borehole. The high-pressure fluid jets remove material through erosion rather than compression, preventing borehole over-pressurization while maintaining effective drilling
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes drilling debris continuously through a dedicated return feed inlet and outflow channel system. The negative pressure generated by the fluid jet system actively pulls cuttings and debris away from the drill face and transports them to the surface, preventing pressure buildup in the borehole and maintaining stable drilling conditions
4Productivity
If geothermal energy production is expanded to meet renewable energy demand, then more energy can be produced, but installation sites are limited due to high cost and temperature gradient requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical drilling systems with a cost-effective fluid jet drilling system, dramatically reducing the capital investment required for geothermal plant construction. This cost reduction makes geothermal energy economically viable at more locations, expanding installation site availability beyond the limited high-temperature gradient regions required by conventional systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the economic and technical parameters of geothermal development by reducing drilling costs and eliminating the requirement for abnormally high temperature gradients. The fluid jet drilling system can effectively drill through various rock formations at moderate temperatures, expanding the geographic and geological range of suitable installation sites for geothermal energy production
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces drilling costs and increases efficiency by minimizing the need for large boreholes and reducing drilling forces, allowing for the production of geothermal energy in a more cost-effective and widely accessible manner.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pressurized fluid flow channel disposed within the body defining a second flow path of pressurized fluid, a nozzle in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid flow channel, The nozzle having at least one orifice configured for ejecting a fluid
Implementation Method 2
The fluid flowing in the outflow channel can generate a reduction in pressure at the return feed inlet
Implementation Method 3
The compression spring can extend from the bottom end of the piston to the to a bottom surface of the annular boss. Absent fluid pressure, the compression spring can be biased to compress the convex conical surface of the piston into the concave conical surface of the drill head body, forming a seal therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
A high pressure fluid drill head system for boring holes in both residential and non-residential areas for geothermal energy shafts. The high pressure drill head system having a body sized for the intended borehole to be drilled and including a plurality of parts coupled together via one or more fastening methods. The plurality of parts including anoutflow channel within the body, at least one high pressure flow channel disposed within the body, the high pressure flow channel disposed parallel to the outflow channel, a nozzle in fluid communication with the high pressure flow channel, the nozzle having at least one orifice configured for ejecting a fluid, a return feed inlet disposed at the lower end of the body, the return feed inlet in fluid communication with the outflow channel.