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EarthGrid tests plasma torch tunnel-boring machine for underground infrastructure
Key points
- EarthGrid tested a plasma torch tunnel-boring machine in January.
- The machine uses 27,000C plasma to melt rock and create tunnels.
- It bored three meters of granite during the California test.
- Commercial deployment is anticipated as early as next year.
Plasma Torch Technology Demonstrated
EarthGrid, led by founder Troy Helming, conducted a test of its rock-melting tunnel-boring machine (TBR) in a California quarry in January. The machine utilizes three plasma torches that generate super-heated plasma reaching 27,000 degrees Celsius, which is hotter than the surface of the Sun. This process melts rock, creating a "violent vortex" to remove debris, including lava.
Test Performance and Adjustments
During the January test, EarthGrid's cigar-shaped boring machine successfully bored through three meters of granite. Helming noted that the machine slightly "over-bored" to the top and left of the tunnel. To correct this, the team plans to adjust the machine to create a vortex that spins in alternating directions every five minutes. Commercial deployment of the TBR is projected for as early as next year.
Addressing Demand for Underground Infrastructure
Emerging technologies like EarthGrid's TBR could make tunnel boring more efficient, which is relevant for placing critical infrastructure underground. Engineering firms report increased demand for undergrounding, partly due to vulnerabilities highlighted by events like the conflict in Ukraine. Undergrounding protects facilities such as electricity or telecommunications cables, substations, and data centers from attacks.
Potential Applications
Helming stated that companies have expressed interest in using the tunnel-boring machine for various applications, including power and fiber optic cables, and pipelines for water, natural gas, or ammonia. EarthGrid is also considering a project to bore tunnels for an underground freight-distribution system near airports and warehouses, aiming to reduce truck traffic.
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Reporting from
EarthGrid successfully tested its rock-melting tunnel-boring machine (TBR) in California, using plasma torches to bore through granite. This technology aims to make placing critical infrastructure underground quicker and more cost-effective, addressing increased demand for secure facilities.