Ram Accelerator Endcap for Drilling Pressure Isolation
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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 prohibitive in arid regions.
Innovation Solution
The use of a ram accelerator system that propels projectiles at hypervelocity or non-hypervelocity to interact with geological material, forming holes through fluid-fluid or solid-solid interactions, respectively, while minimizing tool wear and water consumption, and allowing for deeper exploration and resource recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional drilling and excavation methods are used, then material can be removed to form desired excavation, but the process is slow and requires significant water supplies which is prohibitive in arid regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical drilling systems with a ram accelerator system that uses controlled combustion of combustible gas to propel projectiles at hypervelocity. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical bits that require water cooling and lubrication, thereby solving the contradiction between excavation speed and water consumption in arid regions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters from conventional low-speed mechanical drilling to hypervelocity projectile impact. By transforming the drilling mechanism into a high-velocity impact system using combustible gas propulsion, the process achieves faster excavation without requiring water supplies, resolving the contradiction for arid region applications
2Productivity
If conventional drilling methods are used with mechanical bits, then holes can be formed in material, but tool wear and breakage slows operations and increases costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical drilling bits with hypervelocity projectiles propelled by combustible gas combustion. This substitution eliminates tool wear and breakage associated with mechanical bits, as the projectiles are replaced after each use while maintaining consistent performance, thereby resolving the contradiction between drilling speed and tool durability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs disposable projectiles that are replaced after each use rather than maintaining expensive mechanical bits that suffer from wear and breakage. This approach ensures consistent drilling performance and speed while eliminating the reliability issues associated with tool degradation, resolving the contradiction between productivity and tool durability
3Productivity
If explosives are used for excavation, then material can be broken apart, but additional safety and regulatory burdens increase operational cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the excavation method from high-explosive detonation to controlled combustion of combustible gas propelling hypervelocity projectiles. This parameter change maintains excavation efficiency while reducing safety and regulatory burdens, as controlled combustion is less hazardous than explosive detonation, resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity
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 approach significantly reduces the time and cost of resource extraction, minimizes environmental impact, and enables deeper exploration of natural resources by using the energy released from projectile impacts for drilling and excavation.
Implementation Method 1
A projectile is boosted to a ram velocity down a launch tube and through multiple sections. At the ram velocity, a ram compression effect provided at least in part by a shape of the projectile initiates combustion
Implementation Method 2
combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second
Implementation Method 3
The projectile is ejected from the ram accelerator towards a working face of the geologic material. Projectiles travelling at hypervelocity typically interact with the geologic material at the working face as a fluid-fluid interaction upon impact
Data Source
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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 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. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impacts a working face. In some implementations a purge gas may be used to form a ullage between the endcap and the working face.