Test facility for investigating the separation of solids from liquids. It essentially consists of a suspension tank with a capacity of approximately 200 litres, equippend with a stirrer to keep the solid particles suspended, a centrifugal pump, a 4'' hydrocyclone and measuring equipment. Various hydrocyclones can be installed.

A particle size analysis device (Horiba LA-300 laser diffraction particle size analyser) is available for evaluating the experiments.

Possible applications:

• Investigation of separation performance using different suspensions
• Investigation of the separation behaviour of different hydrocyclones designs
• Applications across a wide range of industries, including drilling fluids, natural sediments, process water, industrial wastewater and the food industry.

Technical data:

• Hydrocyclone diameter = 4'' (other cyclones also possible)
• Centrifugal pump: max. flow rate = 250 l/min, max. pressure increase = 8.5 bar
• Sensors: magnetic-inductive flow meter, pressure sensors (analogue or digital) at various positions

Contact: Dr Silke Röntzsch, 39-4312, Silke [dot] Roentzsch [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Silke[dot]Roentzsch[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)

WiBOS (Scientific Drilling in Saxony) is a hydraulic drilling rig based on the GEO 602GT HT from the manufacturer Comacchio and specially equipped for a wide range of research applications. Various drilling tools with a diameter of 45 to 360 mm can be used on this universal drilling rig, e.g. rotary drilling tools, Down-the-hole hammers, core drilling tools or augers.

WiBOS is equipped with two power swviels so that both high speeds and high torques are possible. Two systems are available for the use of fluid flushing: A progressive cavity pump (Bellin NG 800 L/P5, 250 l/min, 20 bar) for water and drilling fluid systems and a compressor (CompAir C 200 TS-24, 20 Nm3/min, 24 bar) for the provision of compressed air.

WiBOS has a crawler chassis and is therefore not road-legal. A low-loader is required to transport the 11-tonne drilling rig.

Possible applications:

• Sinking all types of research boreholes to a depth of approx. 200 m, geothermal probes, groundwater wells, exploratory drilling and much more.
• Development and testing of drilling tools and other drill string components
• Research projects to analyse/optimise the drilling process

Technical data:

• Weight: approx. 11 t
• Dimensions: Width: 1.7 m, length: 6.5 m (with mast laid down)
• Feed length: 3 m
• Max. Feed force: 65 kN (6.6 t)
• Max. Retraction force: 95 kN (9.7 t)
• Upper KDK: 11 - 3.6 kNm (50 - 140 rpm)
• Lower KDK: 24 kNm (57 rpm)
• Data acquisition: GPS position, drilling depth, drill string rotational speed, rate of penetration (ROP), drilling fluid or air pressure and flow rate, pressures in the hydraulic system, and instrumented  shaft for weight-on-bit (WOB) and torque measurement

Funding provided by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Free State of Saxony.

Contact: Dr Silke Röntzsch, 39-4312, Silke [dot] Roentzsch [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Silke[dot]Roentzsch[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)

Test facility for investigating data transmission in boreholes, the propagation of sound/pressure waves in pipework for the purpose of increasing the data transmission rate in boreholes.

The mud circuit is located in the IBF test hall. It consists of PVC pipes and has a total length of 90.5 metres. The majority of the pipes are DN 57 pipes. The water used for rinsing is stored in a tank and pumped through the circuit by a progressive cavity pump located in the basement. The centrepiece of the system is the pulser section, in which up to three data pulser can be installed and operated in parallel or in series. Noises in the borehole can be simulated using an actuator system (frequency and amplitude can be set independently of each other). The tests are controlled and logged from a PC in a measurement cabin using a real-time processor.

Possible applications:

• Examination of hydraulic and acoustic data transmission
• Examination of different data pulsers
• Multi-pulser arrangement (parallel or in series)

Technical data:

• Available pulsers: positive pulser, negative pulser, two mud sirens, underwater loudspeaker
• Max. Volume flow: 40 m³/h, max. possible pressure in the system: 6 bar
• Sensors: Flow meter, four permanently installed pressure sensors (p1 - p4), additional measuring points provided (can be fitted with any sensors if required)
• Variable sample rate, max. 2,000 Hz

Contact: Dr Silke Röntzsch, 39-4312, Silke [dot] Roentzsch [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Silke[dot]Roentzsch[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)

This test stand enables the measurement of drag forces caused by friction between an outer pipe (casing) and various installation components (e.g. centralisers) as a function of the flushing used (WBM, OBM) and its additives. Friction coefficients can be determined from the recorded data of the individual tests and the influence of the flushing, including the additives added, can be worked out. It is also possible to carry out wear analyses on the installation components and casings.

Contact: Dipl.-Ing. Susann Klein, 39-2366, Susann [dot] Klein [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Susann[dot]Klein[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)

The drilling rig developed by TU Dresden and the IBF itself is located near Freiberg in Dorfhain. It is equipped with a winch (max. 10 t hook load), a mud pump (max. 1000 l/min), two settling containers for mud preparation and the corresponding control technology. The maximum length of the components to be installed is 9.5 metres. Axial movement can currently be realised via the pulley block. Rotation of the components is not possible at the moment. There is a borehole under the drilling rig, which is stabilised up to a depth of 6 m with a plastic standpipe (diameter 350 mm). Stable gneiss is located at a depth of 6 metres or more. Various tools can be tested on the rig/in the borehole.

Contact person: Prof Matthias Reich, 39-2491, Matthias [dot] Reich [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Matthias[dot]Reich[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)

Test facility for investigating the machining of metal pipes (also cemented)

The modular design allows various drilling tools such as rotary drills and electric rotary hammers to be mounted. The rotary drilling machine is used to investigate the mechanisms of cutting sample destruction and the electric hammer drill is used to investigate the mechanisms of percussive sample destruction. Rinsing with clear water or air is possible during the experiments. The feed of the drilling tools is controlled by force or speed via a PLC control system. The process data is also recorded using measurement technology.

Possible applications:

• Investigations into the cutting behaviour of various pipe materials and the chip shape as a function of feed rate, speed and tool material
• Investigations into the mechanisms of cutting rock destruction
• Investigations into the mechanisms of impact rock destruction

Technical data:

• Max. Sample mass 300 kg (rock)
• Max. Sample dimensions (rock) WxHxD: 580 mm x 845 mm x 400 mm
• Sample diameter tube: 1.9"; 2 3/8"; 2 7/8"; 3 1/2"
• Torque M = 430 Nm
• Thrust speed 0...35 mm/s
• Max. Travelling distance 320 mm
• Max. Pressure force 10 kN

Contact: Dipl.-Ing. Susann Klein, 39-2366, Susann [dot] Klein [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Susann[dot]Klein[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)

These air-bearing rheometers enable the modern characterisation of flow properties and the non-destructive characterisation of gels or thixotropic media. Flow curves, viscosity curves, amplitude sweeps, frequency sweeps or combinations of these measurement methods can be performed. Normal force measurements are also possible. Cylinder, double-gap, plate-plate and cone-plate measuring systems are available.

The pressure apparatus provided on the MCR 302 enables rotational measurements at up to 1000 bar 300°C.

Contact: Dr Anne Tamáskovics, 39-3213, Anne [dot] Tamaskovics [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Anne[dot]Tamaskovics[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)

The FANN viscometer, the hydrometer, the Marsh funnel and the retort are used to record parameters for analysing drilling fluids and cement slurries in accordance with the API standard.

The FANN viscometer can be used to determine the viscosity of the drilling fluid or cement slurry in the shear rate range of (5...1022) 1/s, as well as the gel strengths and thixotropy in accordance with API.

The Marsh funnel and hydrometer provide the funnel run-out time in accordance with API and the density.

The retort can be used to determine the oil, water and solids content of an oil-based rinse.

The API filter press can be used to determine the filtrate quantity in accordance with API at a discharge pressure of 7 bar. An HT/HP filter press is also available (max. temperature: 177°C, max. pressure: 82.7 bar (1200 psi)).

The AzNII cone is used to determine the spreading dimension of cement slurries.

Test prisms can be cast to determine the uniaxial compressive strength and flexural tensile strength (4x4x16 cm).

The start and end of setting of cement slurries is determined using the Vicat needle method.

In the roller furnace, the drilling fluid can be aged at an elevated temperature for several hours and simultaneously subjected to mechanical stress.

The effective yield point of supporting suspensions can be measured using the spherical harp in accordance with DIN 4126. The required sample volume is 1 litre.

Contact: Dr Anne Tamaskovics, 39-3212, anne [dot] tamaskovics [at] tbt [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (anne[dot]tamaskovics[at]tbt[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)