The fuel consumption of rotary drilling rigs during construction is influenced by various factors such as geological structure, drill bits used, and operating methods. Mastering certain techniques in daily operations and maintenance can not only save fuel, improve equipment economic benefits, but also reduce environmental pollution.
(1) Proper use of idle speed function
The engine of KaiAo tracked rotary drilling rig consumes about 5L/h of fuel at idle when the throttle is set to 1st gear, and up to 18L/h at idle when the throttle is set to 11th gear. To avoid fuel waste and damage to the engine, prolonged idling should be avoided during operation. For short-term shutdowns, using the automatic idle function can save fuel. When the hydraulic system control lever returns to the neutral position for more than 5 seconds, the engine speed automatically reduces to (1400±50)r/min. When work resumes, the engine speed immediately returns to its original level.
(2) Rational selection of drill bits and methods
Based on geological conditions and the current status of the rotary drilling rig, selecting appropriate drill bits can not only reduce load, increase drilling speed, save fuel, and protect components such as drill rods. Using high-quality tungsten carbide teeth or roller cone drill bits for rock drilling can reduce bit wear and replacement frequency, increase drilling speed, and improve fuel efficiency. Choosing the right model of drill rod can effectively reduce fuel consumption during the lifting and lowering process of the drill bit.
To improve fuel efficiency, when encountering difficult drilling, different drill bits can be combined to change the drilling method and increase drilling speed. For example, when forming large-diameter piles, directly using large-diameter drill bits results in significant resistance and low efficiency. To reduce drilling resistance and improve efficiency, small-diameter drill bits can be used first to drill, followed by enlarging the hole with larger diameter drill bits.
According to the type of geology, strength of rocks or soil, choosing the appropriate pressure method for the rotary drilling rig can not only significantly improve construction efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, but also protect related components. For instance, point pressing is suitable for hard strata, long stroke pressing is suitable for loose and uniform soil strata, while lift-and-press is suitable for gravel or float stone strata.
For effective drilling, appropriate head speed and pressure should be applied based on geological conditions. Improper control of head speed and pressure can easily cause the head to “choke” (overload, causing the head motor to overflow and the head to stop rotating), leading to rapid temperature rise of hydraulic oil and increased power consumption, resulting in fuel waste. When the head is “choked,” operators should adjust the pressure according to the site conditions, gradually restoring rotation. In necessary situations, reverse the head or operate the main hoist to lift the drill rod to prevent the drill bit from getting stuck.
Additionally, when lifting the drill after completing the rotary filling with the drill bit, appropriately manipulating the head’s rotational coordination can not only reduce lifting resistance but also lower fuel consumption during the lifting process.