Ram Accelerator Drilling with Combustible Gas Projectiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drilling and excavation methods are slow, costly, and environmentally impactful, particularly when dealing with hard materials like rock, due to tool wear and the need for significant water supplies, which can be limiting in arid regions.

Innovation Solution

A ram accelerator system that uses a launch tube filled with combustible gases to propel projectiles at hypervelocity or non-hypervelocity towards a working face, creating holes through a ram combustion effect, with section separator mechanisms and guide tubes to manage the drilling process and ejecta removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional drilling and excavation methods are used, then tool wear and water consumption are significant, but drilling speed and efficiency are slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling speedVSAvoiddrilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical drilling systems with a ram accelerator system that uses controlled combustion of combustible gas mixtures to propel projectiles at hypervelocity. This substitution of mechanical drilling with combustion-driven projectile impact achieves dramatically higher drilling speeds while eliminating tool wear and reducing water consumption for dust control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental operating parameters from low-velocity mechanical cutting to hypervelocity projectile impact. By using combustible gas mixtures (such as hydrogen-oxygen or acetylene-oxygen) to accelerate projectiles to extremely high velocities, the system achieves rapid material removal through shock wave and plasma effects, transforming the drilling process from a slow mechanical operation to a high-energy physical phenomenon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional drilling methods are used, then significant water supplies are required, but this limits operation in arid regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational environment flexibilityVSAvoidwater consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion-driven projectile system replaces mechanical drilling that requires water for cooling and dust control. The hypervelocity impact creates plasma and shock waves that fragment and eject material without generating dust requiring water suppression, eliminating the water consumption constraint and enabling operation in arid regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses combustible gas mixtures (pneumatic principle) to accelerate projectiles, replacing the hydraulic/water-based systems traditionally used for dust control and cooling in drilling operations. This pneumatic approach using controlled combustion eliminates dependence on water supplies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional drilling methods are used, then operational costs are high due to tool wear and cycle time, but the ram accelerator reduces these costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational costVSAvoiddrilling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Replacing mechanical drilling tools with hypervelocity projectile impact eliminates tool wear costs entirely. The projectile system uses controlled combustion of readily available combustible gases to achieve material removal, converting operational costs from expensive replacement tools and water consumption to more economical combustible gas supplies while dramatically improving drilling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The ram accelerator system uses periodic firing of combustible gas charges to propel successive projectiles through the drill hole. This periodic action allows continuous drilling progress without the need to stop for tool changes or water replenishment, maintaining high productivity while reducing operational costs through efficient energy utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

This method significantly reduces drilling time and costs while minimizing environmental impact by using a more efficient energy transfer mechanism and reducing the need for water, enabling deeper resource extraction and exploration.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRam combustion effect: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS10697242B2Ram accelerator system with baffles

Publication Date: 2020.06.30 HYPERSCIENCES INC

AI summary

One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator includes one or more baffles that are downhole. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. The endcap may be maintained in place within the hole at least in part by the one or more baffles. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impacts a working face.