Geothermal resources play an important role in providing energy and electricity for various purposes, such as heating or cooling buildings. Geothermal heating and cooling works by harnessing energy from the Earth. Earth’s temperature is relatively constant (50-60oF) at about 20 feet below the surface. Liquid (usually water and antifreeze) is pumped into the ground through tubes to harness this energy. During the summer when ambient temperature is higher than ground temperature, the ground cools that liquid. Once the liquid comes up, heat exchangers transfer the energy to cool the building. During the winter, this exact opposite heat transfer happens.
Commonly, vertical geothermal drills dig the holes for geothermal energy anywhere from 200-400 ft. deep in diameters of four to eight inches. Geothermal drilling presents a unique set of challenges. It demands powerful tools to break through deep rock formations in the earth’s crust, all while sustaining efficiency in harsh environments. An efficient method to drill these holes are known as down-the-hole (DTH) hammer drills. Compressed air powers these drills. The use of reliable compressed air plays a crucial role in geothermal drilling. This ensures efficient operation and productivity in extracting energy from beneath the Earth’s surface.
Air compressors such as Vanair® Drill Compressor Modules provide the power needed to drive pneumatic drilling equipment to aid in penetration through tough rock formations for geothermal drilling. Aside from simply powering drilling tools, compressed air can assist in cooling drill bits and maintaining airflow to clear debris from boreholes, preventing blockages that hinder operation. Due to the nature of geothermal drilling, it often involves working in extreme conditions with high temperatures and dense geological structures. Reliable air compressor systems enable drillers to maintain consistent pressure, improving precision and reducing wear on drilling components. As geothermal drilling exploration expands worldwide, compressed air will continue to be an indispensable tool in harnessing the Earth’s heat for reliable energy production.
Vanair® Drill Compressor Modules are a compact solution to limited space requirements on today’s rigs. With a wide range of capacities to choose from, these single stage (up to 900 CFM and 250 PSI) and two-stage (up to 1350 CFM and 350 PSI) drill modules meet the rigorous demands of various drilling applications, such as geothermal drilling.
