Table Of ContentV. Ya. Ushakov · V. F. Vajov · N. T. Zinoviev
Electro-discharge
Technology for
Drilling Wells
and Concrete
Destruction
Electro-discharge Technology for Drilling Wells
and Concrete Destruction
V. Ya. Ushakov V. F. Vajov
(cid:129)
N. T. Zinoviev
Electro-discharge
Technology for Drilling
Wells and Concrete
Destruction
123
V.Ya.Ushakov N.T. Zinoviev
TomskPolytechnic University TomskPolytechnic University
Tomsk, Russia Tomsk, Russia
V.F.Vajov
TomskPolytechnic University
Tomsk, Russia
ISBN978-3-030-04590-6 ISBN978-3-030-04591-3 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04591-3
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Preface
Spark discharge initiated in all dielectric media with electrical voltage exceeding a
certain critical value (usually called breakdown) has attracted attention of scientists
alreadysincethedawnofthedevelopmentofelectricalpowerengineering(EPE),and
naturaldischarge(lightning)—sinceantiquity.AtthebeginningoftheEPEdevelop-
ment,thesparkwasofinterestmainlyasacauseforthebreakdownofinsulationof
electricalequipmentanditsfailure.Withscientificandtechnicalprogressinallspheres
of material activity anddeepening of knowledge about thenature andproperties of
electrical discharges, the scope of technological application of their manifestation,
includingtheformationofshockwavesandradiationinawiderangeofwavelengths,
hightemperatures,chemicalandphasetransformations,hasbeenexpanded.
Since the second half of the twentieth century, a slow, but steady increase in the
share of consumption of electricity converted into other energy types by means of
electricaldischargesofvarioustypesindifferentmediahasbeenobserved.Thehigh
energy intensity of processing and destroying solids and, in particular, superhard
non-conductingbodies(ofnaturalandartificialorigin)stimulatedthebirthoftheidea
oftechnologicalapplicationofthe spark discharge for destructing and processingof
solid non-conducting bodies. The effect was well known to scientists who experi-
mentally studied the electrical breakdown of solid dielectrics (it forced them to
replace the samples after each breakdown) as well as experts in high-voltage engi-
neering forced to replace or restore equipment after insulation breakdown.
Thebirthoftheideaoftheapplicationofthesparkdischargechannelinasolid
atTomskPolytechnicUniversity(TPU)wasnatural,sinceherethescientificschool
on the study of nature and main regularities of electrical breakdown of solid
dielectricswasfoundedundertheleadershipofProf.A.A.Vorob’evinthe1950s.
These studies were performed at the Department of High-Voltage Technology
(DHVT) founded in 1946. The number of investigators and the scientific scope
of these studies expanded as results of investigations of physics of solid dielectric
breakdown embodied in the development of a new electro-discharge technology
(EDT). By 1963, achievements inthis field had provided the basis for establishing
the “Kedr” Laboratory. Employees of a number of other TPU divisions, whose
scientific potential contributed to a solution of the complex problem of EDT
v
vi Preface
development,wereactivelyinvolved.Forbettercoordinationofscientificresearch,
the High-Voltage Research Institute (HVRI) was founded in 1968 based on the
“Kedr” Laboratory and TPU divisions of high-voltage technology, electrical insu-
lating and cable technology, and technology of exploration of mineral deposits.
Already, the very first results of testing of installations implementing the new
technology under laboratory and field conditions were so impressive, especially
when drilling wells, that they inspired confidence in rapid and large-scale EDT
introduction in practice. For example, when drilling wells 150.0–180.0 mm in
diameter in 1968, penetration rates of 6.05 m/h were achieved at energy con-
sumptionof1.57kWh/m.Thepossibilityofdrillingdeepwells(upto233m)with
diameters up to 235 mm was demonstrated.
Inthegranulationofmineralsandartificialmaterials,suchEDTadvantageswere
revealed:
(cid:129) selectivity of destruction—preservation of minerals from destruction and more
complete extraction of useful components,
(cid:129) absence of contamination of the final product by materials of working tool
destruction,
(cid:129) possibilitytoregulatetheparticlesizedistributionoftheproduct,i.e.,toobtaina
narrower particle size distribution than in mechanical granulation.
In breaking and cutting of rocks and concretes and destructing reinforced con-
crete products, the EDT advantages include:
(cid:129) utilization of substandard reinforced concrete products due to the possibility of
separatingconcretefromreinforcementwithoutdeformationthatallowsreusing
of both concrete and reinforcement,
(cid:129) possibility of obtaining a curved cut trajectory when moving the electrode
system.
With all these EDT applications, its advantages are:
(cid:129) high energy efficiency of technological processes due to a smaller number of
supplied electric energy conversion into the destruction energy,
(cid:129) weak dependence of the technical and economic indicators of crushing and
grindingofrocksandartificialmaterialsonthehardnessandabrasivenessofthe
material or product being processed/destroyed,
(cid:129) high wear resistance and safety of the working tool (electrode system).
However, the reality turned out to be different—after a successful start, the
progress in the achieved results slowed down, which nearly destroyed this unique
technology. The reasons for this will be analyzed in Chap. 1. Here, we only note
thatduetoinsignificantprogressinthemostattractivescopeofEDTapplication—
in drilling wells—the HVRI began to reorient itself to the development of other
directions of EDT application. The scope of work on ED drilling had been greatly
reduced.
Preface vii
It took time to rethink the strategy of EDT application in drilling operations, as
wellasofwidercooperationofpartners,includingforeignones.Itbecameclearthat
success could be achieved only by focusing efforts on the most promisingareas of
EDT application in drilling and using the potential of international cooperation to
solve this difficult complex problem. Until the early 1990s, it had been impossible
duetosecrecyofthesubjectthatexcludedthepublicationofmaterialsinthepublic
press and their discussion not only with foreign, but also with Russian specialists;
the notorious “Iron Curtain” supported the isolation regime. Only since the early
1990s,ithasbecomepossibletoinformforeignscientistsaboutthedevelopmentof
a new electric discharge technology in the USSR [1–4] and to give objective
analysis of problems encountered by the developers of this technology [5, 6].
Cooperation was proposed also for solving problems that hinder wide practical
application of the new technology.
AnewstageintheEDThistorygoesbackto1996whencontractsontestingthe
technology of destruction of substandard reinforced concrete products and drilling
wells with a diameter of at least 300 mm in particularly strong rocks were con-
cluded with Kobe Steel, Ltd and Komatsu, Ltd. In the process of fulfilling the
contract, the Japanese party organized patenting of inventions of employees of the
HVRI in other countries. Three international applications for inventions were
submitted,andtwopatentswerereceivedintheUSA,oneinAustralia,andthreein
Japan.
By the time of completion of collaboration with Japanese firms, the HVRI had
acquirednewcustomers—StatoilASAandUnoDrill,Ltd(Norway),Schlumberger
(USA, England, and France), Technical University of Dresden, and Swiss Geo
PowerEngineeringAG.Highrequirementsofthecustomers(onthediametersand
depths of wells, efficiency of destruction of concrete products, and reliability of
equipment) determined the need for further deepening and expanding scientific
researchanddesignstudies.Their resultsarepresentedinthismonographtogether
with achievements of preceding decades.
Since practically all materials on the EDT obtained at Tomsk Polytechnic
Universityandpartnerinstitutions(KaragandaPolytechnicInstitute,KolaScientific
Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Mekhanobr Institute) for
severaldecades werepresentedinconfidentialsources(dissertations,scientificand
technical reports, and hard-to-reach conference proceedings), it was necessary to
generalize and to systematize these materials in monographs accessible to a wide
range of readers. The opportunities appeared in modern times were realized in
publication of three monographs [7–9]. They were devoted to consideration of
physical foundations of EDT, transient processes in charging and discharging cir-
cuits of technological high-voltage impulse installations, and technical and tech-
nological implementation of basic EDT ideas primarily for crushing and
disintegration of solids. Technologies of well drilling, destroying reinforced con-
crete products for utilization of their components are presented in them, mainly to
illustrate the possibilities of EDT. In this monograph, attention is focused on the
resultsoffieldtestsandpartlyonlaboratoryexperimentswithactualEDTobjects—
viii Preface
rocks, concretes, solid insulation, and washing liquids. A significant part of them
has been obtained after publication of the above-mentioned monographs.
Themainobjectivepersuadedbytheauthorsofnewmonograph[10]devotedto
the EDT was to present in a systematic way the materials on the EDT for wells
drilling,destructionandrecyclingsubstandardreinforcedconcreteproducts,cutting
and breaking of rocks and concretes and to attract attention of managers of
industrialenterprisesandfirmstothenewtechnologyinthehopeofitsrealsupport
andpromotioninindustry.Forthesamepurpose,theauthorsdecidedtopublishits
Englishversioninordertoinformawiderrangeofexpertsandscientistsaboutthe
new technology. The limited availability of monographs [7–9] for a foreign reader
compelled us to repeat (by permission of the authors) in [10] and its English-
language version some materials presented in them concerning first of all physical
principles of EDT.
We consider it our duty to remind that the founders of the EDT are Profs.
A.A.Vorob’ev,G.A.Vorob’ev,A.T.Chepikov,andimmediateheadsofteams—
developers of the technology are I. I Kalyatsky, S. S. Sulakshin, Yu. B. Fortes,
N. E. Kovalenko, B. V. Siomkin, V. I. Kuretz, S. Ya. Ryabchikov, and
N.F.Pobezhimov.DuringintensiveworkonEDT,oneoftheauthorsofthismono-
graph(V.Ya.Ushakov)wasDirectoroftheHVRI,theothertwoauthors(V.F.Vajov
andN.T.Zinoviev)—HeadsofLaboratories(theirbriefbiographiesarepresentedon
thebackcover).
ContinuationofworksonEDTinthelasttwodecadesbecamepossiblethanksto
the active support of the Directors of the HVRI (now its name is School of
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies of Tomsk Polytechnic University)
A. A. Dulzon, S. G. Boev, V. V. Lopatin, A. N. Yakovlev, and Head of the
Laboratory V. M. Muratov.
The monograph was translated by Ph.D. L. G. Shamanaeva. In the preparation
of the manuscript for publication, great help was rendered by engineer
E. V. Bogdanova. Preparation of the monograph for publication became possible
due to financial support of the Rector of TPU, Prof. P. S. Chubic. The authors
express their heartfelt gratitude to each of them.
Readerscansendtheircommentsandsuggestionstoe-mailaddress:[email protected].
Theywillbeacceptedwithgratitude.
Yours sincerely
Tomsk, Russia V. Ya. Ushakov
V. F. Vajov
N. T. Zinoviev
Preface ix
References
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electricdischarges.In:12thIEEEinternationalpulsedpowerconference,Monterey,USA,vol
2,pp1369–1371
3. Boev S, Vajov V, Jgun D et al (2000) Research of conditions of material destruction by
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Contents
1 Relevance, Physical Basics, and Problems of Large-Scale
Introduction of Electrodischarge Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Destruction of Solid Dielectric Materials by Traditional
Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Physical Basics of EDT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Problems of Large-Scale Implementation of EDT . . . . . . . . . . . 9
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2 Impulse Electrical Strength of Rocks and Concretes. . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.1 Physico-Mechanical and Electro-Physical Characteristics
of Rocks and Concretes and Their Influence
on the Electrical Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.1.1 Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.1.2 Concretes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.2 Influence of the Factors Manifested Themselves in EDT
on the Electrical Strength of Rocks and Concretes . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.2.1 Voltage Impulse Duration, Polarity, and Shape . . . . . . 22
2.2.2 The Interelectrode Distance and the Position
of the Electrodes Relative to the Material or Article
to Be Destroyed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.2.3 Temperature and Static Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.2.4 Impact of Dynamic Loads Resulting from Preceding
Discharges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
3 Liquids Used as an Insulation and a Working Medium . . . . . . . . . 39
3.1 Requirements for Liquids Used in the EDT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3.2 Influence of Factors Manifested Themselves in the EDT
on the Electric Strength of Liquids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
3.2.1 Voltage Impulse Duration, Polarity, and Shape . . . . . . 41
xi
