Shaft Boring Dewatering System for Efficient Overburden Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling methods for shafts with diameters between 3 m to 8 m face challenges such as high pumping capacity requirements, clogging risks, high energy consumption, and inefficiencies in overburden removal, especially in hard formations and small diameters, leading to slow sinking speeds, safety concerns, and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A drilling method where a drilling unit and a container for overburden are placed within the shaft, using a transfer system to mix overburden with liquid, allowing sedimentation to occur, reducing liquid content, and utilizing a container with an overflow system to manage the mixture, which is then transported efficiently through the borehole, eliminating the need for large-volume separation elements and enabling effective removal of fines, thus enhancing sinking speed and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional pumping systems are used to remove overburden from deep shafts, then overburden removal is achieved, but pumping capacity requirements become excessively high and clogging risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the overburden removal process into two stages: first, drilling and initial removal to create access; second, gravitational flow and controlled dewatering for bulk removal. This segmentation eliminates the need for continuous high-capacity pumping throughout the entire shaft depth, resolving the contradiction between removal efficiency and pumping capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary dewatering system that allows liquid to flow gravitationally to a collection point before overburden removal. This intermediary approach replaces direct high-capacity pumping with gravitational flow, reducing pumping capacity requirements while maintaining effective overburden removal.
2Volume of moving object
If shaft diameter is reduced to 3-8m, then space requirements are minimized, but access for equipment and overburden removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamic, modular equipment that can be assembled and disassembled within the confined shaft space. The drilling rig and dewatering equipment are designed to be compact and movable, allowing efficient operation in small diameters while maintaining ease of assembly, disassembly, and maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention nests equipment within the shaft by positioning the drilling rig and dewatering system in a compact, space-efficient arrangement. The container for overburden and dewatering equipment is integrated within the shaft footprint, maximizing space utilization while maintaining operational accessibility.
3Productivity
If liquid is continuously supplied to the shaft end for overburden removal, then overburden can be effectively removed, but high pumping capacity and energy consumption are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements periodic dewatering cycles rather than continuous liquid supply. Liquid is supplied during drilling operations, then allowed to accumulate and flow gravitationally to a collection point, followed by periodic removal. This periodic action maintains effective overburden removal while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates equipotential conditions by allowing liquid to flow gravitationally from the shaft end to a lower collection point. This gravitational flow eliminates the need for continuous energy input, replacing it with potential energy conversion, thereby maintaining effective overburden removal while minimizing energy consumption.
4Ease of manufacture
If blasting methods are used for shaft sinking, then shaft can be created without pilot hole, but sinking speed decreases with depth and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces blasting (chemical/mechanical system) with controlled drilling and mechanical rock removal. This substitution maintains the ability to create shafts without pilot holes while achieving consistent sinking speeds regardless of depth, and eliminating the safety risks associated with blasting operations.
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 the necessary pumping capacity, minimizes equipment wear, and increases the efficiency and safety of drilling smaller diameter shafts by allowing for denser overburden settlement and reduced liquid levels, enabling faster and more efficient shaft sinking with reduced logistical efforts.
Implementation Method 1
a drilling unit (100) which is arranged at a shaft end (11) of a drilled shaft (10) and is designed to remove overburden
Implementation Method 2
The borehole is watered, in that water is applied to the overburden (1000), in particular to the overburden which has accumulated in a bottom area (12) of the shaft end (11)
Implementation Method 3
A transfer system (200), for example a pump system, is provided for transferring the overburden into the container (20)
Implementation Method 4
into the container (20), in which the overburden settles at least partially at a bottom area (21) of the container (20)
Implementation Method 5
the supernatant liquid is returned to the end of the shaft (11), in particular to the bottom area (12)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a boring method in which overburden in a shaft end of a drilled shaft (10) is created by a drill unit (90). The overburden is transferred by means of liquid into a container (30, 40) provided within the drilled shaft (10). A mixture of overburden and liquid is thus located in the container (30, 40). The container (30, 40) is flooded by further transfer of overburden by means of liquid, wherein at least excess liquid overflows. A residual mixture remains in the container (30, 40). The liquid that has overflowed is returned to the shaft end. The residual mixture is transported away through the drilled shaft (10). By way of this special separation method, free spaces are created in the region of the drill unit (90), which, even in the case of relatively small shaft diameters, for the first time allows effective, safe and commercially advantageous drilling operation in full shaft drilling mode. The invention also relates to a shaft drilling system which is suitable for carrying out the drilling method.