Tunneling for underground power and pipelines
A tunnel boring machine including a propulsion system, an enclosure carried by the propulsion system, and a torch support structure carried by the enclosure. The torch support structure can include a primary disc mounted on a rotatable shaft carried by the enclosure, a first plurality of plasma torches mounted to the primary disc, and a power supply cable coupled to the enclosure and adapted to supply power to the boring machine from one or more power sources.
1. A tunnel boring system, comprising:
a propulsion system;
a torch support structure carried by the propulsion system;
a set of plasma torches:
carried by the torch support structure;
configured to gasify a first portion of subterranean material from a face of a tunnel; and
configured to melt up to 60% of a second portion of subterranean material from the face of the tunnel to form a vitrified-rock wall lining the tunnel;
a high-powered LED light system; and
a set of high-definition video cameras.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a high-definition video camera from the set of high-definition video cameras is located on the torch support structure.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the high-definition video camera from the set of high-definition video cameras comprises:
a lens; and
a nano-coating disposed on the lens to mitigate the accumulation of particulate on the lens.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the high-definition video camera from the set of high-definition video cameras is configured for remote control through a communication line.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the communication line comprises a fiber optic communication line configured to transmit data from the high-definition video camera from the set of high-definition video cameras.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of high-definition video cameras further comprises a second high-definition video camera located on an enclosure.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the enclosure comprises an ultra-high temperature ceramic enclosure.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second high-definition video camera from the set of high-definition video cameras comprises:
a lens; and
a nano-coating disposed on the lens to mitigate the accumulation of particulate on the lens.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second high-definition video camera from the set of high-definition video cameras is configured for remote control through a communication line.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the communication line comprises a fiber optic communication line configured to transmit data from the high-definition video camera from the set of high-definition video cameras.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor;
an air quality sensor; and
a fiber optic communication line configured to transmit data from the temperature sensor and the air quality sensor.
12. A tunnel boring system, comprising:
a propulsion system;
a torch support structure carried by the propulsion system;
a set of plasma torches carried by the torch support structure;
a sensor configured to ingest a gasified portion of subterranean material; and
a controller configured to:
receive an output from the sensor;
determine a mineral content of the gasified portion of subterranean material; and
in response to the mineral content, determine a need for a secondary liner in the tunnel.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a gas chromatograph.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a mass spectrometer.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the set of plasma torches is configured to melt a second portion of subterranean material from the face of the tunnel to form a vitrified-rock wall lining the tunnel.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein a plasma torch in the set of plasma torches comprises a non-transferred are plasma torch.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein a plasma torch in the set of plasma torches comprises a transferred are plasma torch.
18. A tunnel boring machine, comprising:
a propulsion system;
a torch support structure carried by the propulsion system;
a set of plasma torches carried by the torch support structure;
a set of power, supply, and communications cables extending to a base station outside the tunnel; and
a protective tube:
housing the set of power, supply, a n d communications cables; and
comprising a refractive protection over a first length trailing the propulsion system.
19. The tunnel boring machine of claim 18 , wherein a plasma torch in the set of plasma torches comprises a non-transferred are plasma torch.
20. The tunnel boring machine of claim 18 , wherein a plasma torch in the set of plasma torches comprises a transferred are plasma torch.