A range of air compressors specifically engineered to provide maximum air flow at any pressure setting is said to offer efficient and sustainable solutions for a range of drilling applications including ground engineering, drill and blast, water well, geothermal and foundation drilling.

Atlas Copco says its DrillAir range of air compressors offers reliable, and efficient performance over an extended life cycle and features advanced technologies, supported by a service team.

“Hole deviation, pipe failure, borehole instability, formation damage, lost circulation, pipe sticking, mud contamination, accelerated wear and tear and poor hole cleaning are disruptive to machines and equipment causing costly breakdowns that result in lost productivity, reduced production and expensive repairs,” explains Atlas Copco Power Technique APE sales engineer Jonathan Cassell, adding that appropriate product selection is key to optimising operations.

The company says its compressor range allows operators to select the right product for their core business, while offering the flexibility of adapting to variations in well depth and hammer size for custom applications. Dynamic Flow Boost provides up to 4 m3/min additional flow for faster flushing and drill stem refilling, reducing overall drilling time.

“Essentially, with our integrated DrillAir technologies, customers not only achieve faster drilling speeds but also optimise fuel consumption in the process,” affirms Cassell.

Cassell also highlights the advantages offered by Atlas Copco’s advanced pressure adjusted through cognitive electronics, or PACE, system, noting: “This leading-edge technology enables the customer to tap into the electric engine to control multiple pressure and flow settings, matching them to their application needs. This dynamic optimisation feature is particularly useful when transferring products of different bulk densities by allowing the operator to preset different flow and pressure settings for the required demand in application. Additionally, having multiple pressures on a single compressor eliminates the need for multiple machines, delivering savings on capital investment.” 

The company’s patented XPR technology allows the working pressure range to be extended down to 15 bar. This pressure setting helps prevent soil cavitation during overburden drilling and allows the same compressor to be used for both geothermal and foundation drilling.

Extended warranty and parts plan packages are available from Atlas Copco Power Technique’s service division.