• Media resources

  • How the drill works –
    The water is pumped through the drill in a 'closed loop' system, i.e. the water is continually recirculated through the drill and not disposed of after it has been used. This allows controlled energy input to the drill, which maxmises efficiency.




    The Power Pack contains an electric motor which turns a water hydraulic pump.
    This circulates the water through the drill.




    Water is fed into the drill through the Pressure line (1). When the drill is switched off the water is circulated throughout the system at normal pressure and no energy is lost or wasted. Water leaves via the return line (2).

    When the drill is turned on, Peterstow Aquapower's innovative design creates the pressure needed to drive the drill. Compressing the start level (3) channels the water into the domed area at the top of the drill   the accumulator assembly (4). This dome contains nitrogen behind a rubberised diaphragm. As the dome fills with water, the gas is compessed. When the water reaches a certain pressure where it can’t push any harder against the gas, a valve switches sending a pulse of very high pressure water down the centre of the drill (5).

    This happens around 1900 times per minute, and each pulse of high pressure water pushes down a piston (6) which drives the drill bit (7) up and down, so it can drill the rock.

    For effective drilling, the drill bit must also rotate. When the start level is compressed water is also channelled through a pipe (8) to feed the rotary motor (9). This motor is attached to a drive belt (10) which turns the drill steel.

    Having transferred the high pressure energy to the piston and the motor, the water, which is now low pressure, flows out of the retun line (2) and back into the power pack where it is pumped round again.

    The diagram above is available to download in our press images section.