Experimental and numerical simulation research on shock wave rock-breaking by high voltage electric pulse

Abstract

High-voltage electric pulse(HVEP) drilling technology has the advantages of high rock-breaking efficiency, green and non-polluting. Aiming at the importance of HVEP drilling technology in generating plasma channels, plasma shock waves, and rock-breaking pits, this paper carries out multi-physics field numerical simulations and indoor electric pulse breakdown experiments. This paper first constructs a two-dimensional numerical model of rock electric breakdown. The simulation of HVEP rock breaking, plasma channel and plasma shock wave is realized from the five-field coupling and combined with the wave control equations. The effects of different electrode shapes on the plasma channel, breakdown channel and shock wave are analyzed. Then, this paper designed an indoor HVEP rock-breaking experiment to investigate the influence of different electrode shapes on rock breakdown and plasma shock waves. The simulation and experimental results show that the indoor electric pulse breakdown experiment results are consistent with the simulation results; The plasma channels are formed by the ‘electrical damage’ through each other, and the secondary plasma channel is often generated inside the rock. The generation of the secondary plasma channel means that the rock fragmentation depth and the fragmentation area will be increased; The larger the contact area of the electrode bit with the rock, the larger the radius (volume) of the plasma channel and the smaller the amplitude of the plasma shock wave; The quadrangular electrode bits have the best rock-breaking effect and are recommended; The conical electrode bit has the most excellent dispersion in the statistical analysis of the electric pulse rock-breaking effect, and the stability of the rock-breaking effect is poor, so it is recommended to use it together with the composite drill bit; The cylindrical electrode bit has the best aggregation degree of electric pulse rock-breaking and the most stable rock-breaking effect.