A photovoltaic contractor in Chile needed a solar mounting pile driver for a project with dense gravel layers and semi-rocky ground. High ground resistance made direct pile driving difficult, so the project required a pre-drilling and pile-driving solution for steel solar mounting piles.
Solar Mounting Pile Driver Configuration
To match the ground conditions, YG Machinery recommended a crawler-mounted solar piling machine configured with a hydraulic hammer and DTH drilling system.
- Hydraulic hammer for driving steel solar piles
- DTH drilling system for pre-drilling hard and semi-rock ground
- External air compressor to power the DTH hammer
- Crawler chassis for stable movement on uneven terrain
The DTH system is used to create a pilot hole where ground resistance is too high for direct piling. After pre-drilling, the hydraulic hammer drives the steel pile to the required installation depth.
Technical Specifications
| Overall Size | 4700 × 2100 × 2800 mm | Track Shoe Width | 400 mm |
| Engine | Yuchai 4-cylinder, 85 kW | Operating Weight | Approx. 6.5 t |
| Maximum Drilling Depth | 6 m* | Maximum Drilling Diameter | 350 mm |
| Hydraulic Hammer Flow | 50–110 L/min | Impact Frequency | 350–800 bpm |
| Hydraulic System Pressure | 25–30 MPa | Travel Speed | 5 km/h |
| Climbing Angle | 30° | Hydraulic Pump | 40/40/32 |
*Longer drill rods can be connected for greater drilling depths. DTH drilling requires an external air compressor.
Why Use DTH Pre-Drilling for Rocky Ground?
In dense gravel and semi-rock formations, steel piles may encounter high penetration resistance during direct driving. This can make piling slower and increase the load on the hammer and pile.
DTH pre-drilling provides a practical way to prepare the ground before pile installation. The drilling system breaks and penetrates the hard layer to form a pilot hole, after which the hydraulic hammer completes the pile-driving operation.
This DTH drilling + hydraulic hammer configuration is particularly useful when a solar project combines relatively difficult ground conditions with steel pile installation requirements.
Application for Solar Mounting Systems
For ground-mounted photovoltaic projects, the foundation method must be matched to both the pile dimensions and the ground conditions. A crawler solar pile driver with drilling and piling functions gives contractors more flexibility when soil conditions vary across the project site.
For projects involving gravel, hard soil, or semi-rock formations, YG Machinery can configure the solar mounting pile driver according to:
- Steel pile type and dimensions
- Required pile installation depth
- Ground and rock conditions
- Pre-drilling diameter and depth
- Required drilling and piling method
For more information on selecting the right machine according to pile type, ground conditions, and installation requirements, see our Solar Pile Driver Selection Guide.
Chile Solar Project Solution
The Chile project highlights a common challenge in solar foundation construction: direct pile driving is not always suitable for hard or mixed ground.
By combining DTH pre-drilling with hydraulic pile driving, the solar mounting pile driver provides a practical solution for installing steel solar mounting piles in challenging ground conditions.
If you are planning a solar project in rocky or mixed ground, send us your pile dimensions, required installation depth, and ground conditions. YG Machinery can recommend a suitable drilling and piling configuration.
