Design of energy efficient mine ventilation and cooling systems

Global awareness of potential problems with the long-term availability of resources has encouraged a world-wide re-evaluation of energy consumption. The recent problems experienced with the electricity supply in South Africa have resulted in a more urgent emphasis being placed on energy efficient design and operation of all energy consuming equipment. Electricity is a man mode of energy supply and all major industries are affected by the increasing cost of this commodity. Some of the man electricity consumers in South African mines are ventilation and cooling systems. To address this high consumption, a number of projects are being undertaken to implement energy efficient mine ventilation and cooling/refrigeration systems. These include new generation surface cooling installations which incorporate thermal storage components and strategies that allow active control and cyclical operation of ventilation and cooling systems. This paper provides an update on progress in implementing some of these strategies.