Select your language

Cooling of underground mines with ice (I)

Dlearns how ice cooling in these types of spaces allows for more sustainable productivity and consolidation of profits.

 

by Pierre Brisset*

 

- Publicidad -

The deepest mines in the world are located in South Africa. Faced with the challenge of responding to the demand for minerals at a lower cost, several mines turned to ice technologies to control heat at low extraction levels. Modern ice cooling systems enable acceptable working conditions underground, enhanced safety and increased productivity and dramatic energy savings.

 

This article describes the most recent ice installations in mines and the positive results obtained.

Heat problems in underground facilities and mine cooling: Heat and humidity are constant problems and limiting factors in underground mines. At a great depth, the temperature of virgin rock can exceed 60 °C. Add to this the heat produced by the excavation, and working conditions become very critical for miners, with detrimental effects on their health, safety and performance.

 

The thermal limit for normal cognitive performance in underground environments is below 28°C wet bulb. Beyond this threshold, productivity declines, and at the same time the risk of injury and heat stroke rapidly increases. Therefore, cooling plays a very important role in the management of deep underground mines.

 

- Publicidad -

Include ice in the overall mine cooling strategy: There are significant differences between the different mines and therefore there is no optimal solution that applies to all underground mines with high temperatures. The best strategy usually results from combining various cooling methods with air and water, sometimes both at the surface and underground.

 

However, below 1,000 meters deep, water and air cooling methods quickly reach their limit. This is where ice technology becomes a valid alternative or complement.

 

As heat loads increase with depth, the ability to remove heat underground becomes more limited. The flow of water mass that must be introduced from the surface to cool deep mines and the associated electricity costs to pump it back to the surface are enormous. Similarly, the circulation of cold air involves the construction of expensive airways. Additionally, the efficiency of surface coolers is affected by thermal transfer between the surrounding hot environment to lower levels (cooled water) and/or by increased self-compression temperature (heat gains related to increased pressure as the air drops, depending on the Joule-Thomson effect).

 

- Publicidad -

Ice is colder than water or air conditioning and has a much higher potential for mass cooling (latent melting heat of 333 kJ/kg). It descends through the PVC pipe at a higher speed (2 km in 90 seconds) and still reaches the different levels of the mine at 0°C, with minimal heat loss. These unique properties make ice an attractive and energy-efficient cooling medium for the overall cooling strategy of deep-sea underground mines, especially when viewed early on.

 

In fact, once a mine reaches 1,000 meters, switching from one strategy to another is not always possible. Initial choices may render it inappropriate to implement other solutions at a later stage if ice systems were not contemplated in the overall strategy from the outset, depending on the life expectancy of the mine.

 

Ice cooling systems
Ice was one of the first methods of temperature control in underground mines.

 

By the end of the nineteenth century, naturally produced blocks of ice were already being transported in extraction vehicles to cool mines in North America. The method, somewhat primitive, was soon replaced by cooling systems with water on the surface, pumping water into the mine. However, the flow of water mass introduced to underground mines is huge and the electricity costs involved in pumping a thousand tons of water daily over several kilometers is a major disadvantage.

 

Thanks to the arrival of a new generation of modern cooling systems with ice plants, the ice cooling system was again taken into account by several African mines. After obtaining uneven results with liquid ice, very encouraging results were obtained with solid ice (98% frozen mass fraction).

 

Simply put, ice systems:

  1. Significantly decreased temperatures in the heart of the mine,
  2. They radically reduced the flow of water mass that is pumped to the surface,
  3. They overcame the limitations of underground heat removal,
  4. Provided megawatts of cooling,
  5. Saved pumping energy,
  6. They allowed thermal storage.

 

These benefits stem from the unique physical property of ice. Moreover, successful implementation on the ground was facilitated by the refrigeration industry's ability to design low-cost prefabricated plants that are more modern and energy efficient and reliable.

Note: In the next edition we will share the second part of this interesting article.


* Pierre Brisset is a representative of the company KTI Ice Applications, he can be contacted by email: [email protected]

Duván Chaverra Agudelo
Duván Chaverra AgudeloEmail: [email protected]
Jefe Editorial de las revistas AVI Latinoamérica, ACR Latinoamérica, Ventas de Seguridad, Zona de Pinturas, Aftermarket Internation, Gerencia de Edificios, TV y Video, y Director Académico en Latin Press, Inc,.
Comunicador Social y Periodista con experiencia de más de 18 años en medios de comunicación. Apasionado por la tecnología y por esta industria.

No comments

• If you're already registered, please log in first. Your email will not be published.

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User
The HVAC/R sector will meet in Panama with ACR Latin America

The HVAC/R sector will meet in Panama with ACR Latin America

Panama. ACR Latin America invites the Panamanian community in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector to an integration night that will take place on April 24 at the Hotel Riu Plaza.

Refrimundo announces the ninth edition of the Refricon 2025 National Air Conditioning Congress

Refrimundo announces the ninth edition of the Refricon 2025 National Air Conditioning Congress

Costa Rica.  Refrimundo announced the ninth edition of the National Congress of the Day of the Technician: Refricon 2025, which will take place next Saturday, May 24, at the Convention Center of...

Smart ventilation allows cruisers to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 10%

Smart ventilation allows cruisers to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 10%

International. Demand-driven technology optimizes energy use in galleys and staterooms on cruise ships. A key improvement in HVAC systems could be setting the course for more efficient and...

Case study: Lagleyze Hospital reinforces the safety of its operating theatres with new air conditioning technology

Case study: Lagleyze Hospital reinforces the safety of its operating theatres with new air conditioning technology

Argentina. The Hospital Oftalmológico Pedro Lagleyze has just incorporated a new air conditioning system that will allow optimal conditions of temperature, humidity and air purity to be maintained...

MAHLE launches bionic radial blower inspired by the penguin: quieter, more efficient and compact

MAHLE launches bionic radial blower inspired by the penguin: quieter, more efficient and compact

International. MAHLE presented an innovation that promises to transform air conditioning systems in the automotive industry: a bionic radial blower that reduces noise by 60% and improves efficiency...

Marcelo Contreras assumes the presidency of the Chilean Chamber of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Marcelo Contreras assumes the presidency of the Chilean Chamber of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Chile. The Chilean Chamber of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning A.G. announced the appointment of Marcelo Contreras Barrera as its new president for the period 2025-2026.

Siemens appoints Miguel D'Alessio as new CEO in Colombia

Siemens appoints Miguel D'Alessio as new CEO in Colombia

Colombia. Focused on sustainability, industrial digitalization and energy storage, Siemens, a global technology company for the electrification, automation and digitalization of industries and...

Finalists of the CALA AWARDS will travel as guests to RefriAméricas Santo Domingo

Finalists of the CALA AWARDS will travel as guests to RefriAméricas Santo Domingo

Latin America. Applications for the prestigious CALA AWARDS 2025 will be open until May 10. This award, organized by ACR Latin America, is a unique opportunity to highlight the best air conditioning...

Copeland to Showcase Innovative Cold Chain Solutions at Global Cherry Summit 2025

Copeland to Showcase Innovative Cold Chain Solutions at Global Cherry Summit 2025

Chile. Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate solutions, will participate in the Global Cherry Summit 2025, which will be held on April 22 at the Monticello Conference Center, in San...

Carrier Receives Double Recognition at the 2025 Environment + Energy Leader Awards

Carrier Receives Double Recognition at the 2025 Environment + Energy Leader Awards

United States. The company was awarded in the Energy Innovation and Software Implementation categories for its Abound solutions, which optimize energy consumption in more than 2,500 stores in the...

Free Subscription
Remember Me
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
DO YOU NEED A SERVICE OR PRODUCT QUOTE?
LASTEST INTERVIEWS
SITE SPONSORS










LASTEST NEWSLETTER
Ultimo Info-Boletin