So, the deeper the hole is, the higher the air pressure needs to be.
IDK about physics but would it help to have another pipe that is a vacuum? (Like, hooked up to a vacuum pump stationed on ground level.) So then you don’t need such a high pressure at the bottom?
It wouldn’t help that much, because you only have one atmosphere of pressure to remove (which for reference is only enough to suck water up about 35 ft.).
That’s theoretically possible, but how do you install them? Power them? Deal with abrasive particles and lubrication issues?
What people have decided is more practical is: have a big bucket in the hole, and have compressed air blow the cuttings into the bucket. Then it’s periodically lifted up and emptied. But liquid drilling fluid has other advantages, like balancing pressure down in the hole.
Of course, with microwave drilling you can’t use liquid and need a large mass flow of air for cooling.
IDK about physics but would it help to have another pipe that is a vacuum? (Like, hooked up to a vacuum pump stationed on ground level.) So then you don’t need such a high pressure at the bottom?
It wouldn’t help that much, because you only have one atmosphere of pressure to remove (which for reference is only enough to suck water up about 35 ft.).
I guess that’s right… what if you have a series of pumps in the same pipe, say one every kilometer?
That’s theoretically possible, but how do you install them? Power them? Deal with abrasive particles and lubrication issues?
What people have decided is more practical is: have a big bucket in the hole, and have compressed air blow the cuttings into the bucket. Then it’s periodically lifted up and emptied. But liquid drilling fluid has other advantages, like balancing pressure down in the hole.
Of course, with microwave drilling you can’t use liquid and need a large mass flow of air for cooling.