Screw air compressors are one of the core power equipment of blasting drills, and their professional role is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
I. Providing continuous and stable compressed air power
1.Driving the rock drilling mechanism
The impact and rotation of the drill bit of the blasting drill rely on compressed air to drive the rock drill piston to reciprocate. The screw air compressor continuously outputs high-pressure air (usually the working pressure is 7-12 bar, depending on the drill model) to ensure that the drill bit breaks the rock with high-frequency impact (such as 1500-3000 times/minute) to improve the drilling efficiency.
Comparative advantages: Compared with piston air compressors, the output airflow of screw air compressors is more stable and has less pulsation, which can reduce the wear of rock drill parts and extend the life of the equipment.
2.Slag removal and cooling function
Compressed air blows away the rock slag in the borehole through the center hole of the drill rod to prevent the accumulation of debris from affecting the drilling speed; at the same time, the airflow can reduce the temperature of the drill bit and reduce the wear of the tool caused by high temperature.
Technical points: The slag removal efficiency is directly related to the air volume of the air compressor (usually 10-30 m³/min is required). Insufficient air volume will cause rock slag to be retained and even the drill to be stuck.
II.Ensure the automatic control of the drilling rig system
1.Power source of pneumatic control system
The pneumatic control valves (such as reversing valves and pressure valves) of the hydraulic systems such as the traveling mechanism, boom lifting, and drill rod loading and unloading of the drilling rig rely on compressed air drive to achieve precise motion control.
Typical scenario: In open-pit mines or tunnel blasting operations, the drilling rig needs to frequently adjust the operating position. The air compressor provides power for the fast-response pneumatic-hydraulic linkage system to improve operational flexibility.
2.Pneumatic auxiliary function
Used to clean dust on the surface of the equipment, provide compressed air for breathing for operators (filter device is required), or supply air for other pneumatic tools (such as purge guns) to ensure the safety and convenience of operation.
III.Reliability design to adapt to complex working conditions
1.High durability and environmental adaptability
The screw air compressor adopts a twin-screw rotor structure with fewer moving parts, strong vibration and impact resistance, and is suitable for blasting drills in open-air or underground environments with high dust, high humidity, and large temperature fluctuations (-20°C to 40°C) for long-term operation.
Data support: The average trouble-free operation time (MTBF) of the screw air compressor can reach more than 20,000 hours, and the maintenance cycle is long (such as changing lubricating oil every 2,000 hours), reducing downtime maintenance costs.
2.Energy saving and intelligent features
Some high-end models are equipped with variable frequency speed regulation technology, which can dynamically adjust the exhaust volume according to the load of the drilling rig, and the energy saving rate can reach 10%-30%; the integrated intelligent control system can monitor parameters such as pressure, temperature, energy consumption in real time, and warn of equipment failure.
Is the screw air compressor a necessary configuration for blasting drilling rigs?
1.Necessity analysis
The inevitability of the mainstream technical route: Modern blasting drilling rigs (such as down-the-hole drilling rigs and rotary drilling rigs) generally use pneumatic rock drilling or pneumatic-hydraulic hybrid drive technology. Screw air compressors are the standard configuration of most drilling rigs due to their high efficiency and stability.
2.Limitations of alternative solutions:
Although hydraulic rock drills do not need air compressors, they need to be equipped with high-power hydraulic stations. The system is highly complex and energy-consuming, and the slag removal efficiency is lower than that of pneumatic methods when drilling deep holes (such as hole depth > 30 meters).
In small drilling rigs or temporary operation scenarios, mobile piston air compressors may be used as substitutes, but they have disadvantages such as unstable airflow and frequent maintenance, and are not suitable for large-scale blasting operations.
