Rock Drilling Rig Oil Cooling Using an On-Board Water Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rock drilling rigs face inefficiencies due to the rise in hydraulic oil temperature during drilling operations, leading to reduced performance and increased energy consumption, with existing cooling solutions being cumbersome and inflexible.
Innovation Solution
A cooling arrangement using an on-board water tank to cool hydraulic oil before it reaches the drilling machine, employing an oil-to-water heat transfer principle, with the tank being strategically placed on the carrier to enhance efficiency and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional coolers are connected to the hydraulic system, then hydraulic oil can be cooled, but the cooling system becomes complex and less flexible
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the existing water tank already present on the rock drilling rig. The hydraulic feed lines are routed through the water tank, combining the cooling function with an existing structural element, thereby avoiding additional complex cooling system components while effectively cooling the hydraulic oil
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank serves dual purposes: its original function and now also functions as a heat exchanger for cooling hydraulic oil. The system uses its own existing resources (the water in the tank) to cool the hydraulic fluid, eliminating the need for external cooling systems
2Temperature
If hydraulic oil is cooled using external cooling systems, then temperature control is achieved, but the system loses flexibility and portability
Solution Approach 1:
The rock drilling rig cools its own hydraulic oil using its own onboard water tank, making the system self-sufficient and independent of external cooling infrastructure. This maintains the portability and flexibility needed for remote mining operations while achieving effective temperature control
3Productivity
If hydraulic oil temperature rises during drilling, then drilling operations can continue, but drilling performance decreases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic feed lines are routed through the water tank before reaching the rock drilling machine, cooling the hydraulic oil in advance before it enters the drilling mechanism. This preliminary cooling action prevents temperature rise during drilling operations, maintaining optimal drilling performance and reducing energy consumption
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 solution effectively transfers heat from pressurized hydraulic oil to water, improving drilling efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and allowing higher operational temperatures, thus enhancing drilling power and flexibility in various drilling conditions.
Implementation Method 1
heat is transferred effectively from the pressurized hydraulic oil of the feed flow to water of the water tank on-board the carrier
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A rock drilling rig and method for providing cooling for hydraulic oil in a hydraulic system. The rock drilling rig (1) comprises a cooling arrangement (13) for cooling the hydraulic oil fed to a rock drilling machine (5) by conveying a feed flow of hydraulic oil via a water tank (14) arranged on-board a carrier (2) of the rock drilling rig.