Particle size distribution of ice chips produced under varies drilling conditions in the process of ice core drilling

The particle size of ice chips has a significant influence on the efficiency of the transportation of ice chips, the maximum possible rate of penetration, and eventually determines the success or failure of drilling. To determine the factors that affect the particle size of ice chips and elucidate the impact mechanism of the factors on the particle size of ice chips, an ice cutting test stand was built, the ice chips produced under different drilling conditions are sampled using the cutter with straight cutting edge and full kerf width, and the distribution of particle size of ice chips under various drilling conditions was obtained by screening and weighing methods. Finally, the influencing factors and laws on the distribution of particle size of ice chips were determined. The rake and relief angles of the cutter affect mainly the proportion of ice chips with particle sizes smaller than 0.5 mm. As the rake angle and the relief angle of the cutter increases, the proportion of ice chips with a particle size of smaller than 0.5 mm increases. The rotation speed of the drill bit and cutting depth have an impact on the overall distribution of particle size of ice chips. As the rotation speed of the drill bit and cutting depth increase, the particle size of ice chips increases. But as the increase continues, the trend of increase gradually weakens.