• OPERATIONS
INTO THE DEEP
Edited by Leon Louw
Twenty years after it pioneered modular mine cooling solutions in Australia , energy company Aggreko has released an offering for mines going deeper with the release of its latest modular bulk air coolers ( BACs ).
Leon Louw
Underground mining is a harsh environment , and the necessary cooling is essential to ensure a sustainable and safe operation .
The modular 12.19m mobile BAC10000s are unique and relatively new to the mine cooling market . They are scalable , portable and boast three times the cooling capacity of the previous largest offering – the 6.09m containers .
According to Aggreko Underground Cooling Sector Manager Mitch Bevan , the BAC10000s were used at a Western Australian mine last year and will soon arrive at a mine in New South Wales , Australia .
Bevan says part of the new modular BACs appeal was their simplicity and convenience when compared to purpose-built onsite cooling plants . The new BACs uses a simple design involving pipes , chilled water and three axial fans – all comprised in a modular shipping container .
Bevan says that he expected mines in regions like Africa , Latin America , and North America to be especially interested in the company ’ s new product offering .
30 • African Mining • November 2021
“ The unit is more suited for larger installations and offers improved efficiency rather than using a large number of smaller BACs ,” says Bevan .
“ Capital refrigeration plants take a long time for mines to prepare for financially , as well as to install whereas we can mobilise on relatively short notice . A rental option also provides a great deal of flexibility , which is often crucial for underground vent systems where it is difficult to predict the requirement year on year .”
Aggreko re-engineered their cooling towers to come up with the 12.19m modular BAC10000s after anticipating there would be global demand for such an offering .
Deep mining more popular According to ScienceDirect , deep mining is set to become more common . Already , deep mining at 1 000m underground is considered normal , the depth of geothermal development has reached more
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