SHAFT SINKING
The gravitational pull
Timberland Equipment Limited is very much on board with Green Gravity’ s aim to leverage disused mine shafts to store and distribute renewable energy.
The Canada-based company, which supplies not only essential hoisting and winching equipment for shaft sinking contractors but has also developed specialised mine rescue systems for both emergencies and shaft inspections, was recently named as a key partner of Green Gravity.
This energy storage system moves heavy weights vertically in legacy mine shafts to capture and release the gravitational potential energy of the weights. By using proven mechanical parts and disused mine shafts, Green Gravity’ s energy storage technology is low-cost, long-life and environmentally compelling, the company claims. The technology improves the economics of wind and solar power, leading to a faster and lower cost transition away from fossil fuels, it added.
Green Gravity has signed a number of MoUs as part of its plans to roll out this technology, including with Glencore, RUC( now Redpath) and Wollongong Resources.
change and full retention of all the safety and efficiencies associated with SBR shaft sinking,” it said.
In addition, Element 6 Poly-Crystalline Diamond picks were selected due to their ability to better withstand the abrasive properties of the sandstone when compared with the alternatives, the company says.“ Whilst these measures increase the cutting performance of the SBR, further options were implemented to ensure the performance throughout the extent of the SSG.”
The“ partial blast system” was developed specifically for the Woodsmith SBRs and will be a world first in SBR operation, Anglo American says. It combines the proven process of blasting with all the benefits of the SBR system and technology. The partial blast system has been developed in collaboration with Redpath Deilmann, Herrenknecht, the SBR design and fabricator, and indurad, the automation system specialist.
Anglo American explained:“ The partial blast system uses drills mounted on hydraulic arms in the cutting chamber controlled by an advanced sensor guided system. This system will be operated semiautonomously and has the added benefit of being able to be operated remotely. Upon completion of the blasting, the material is excavated from the bench using the full functionality of the SBR system with the SBR cutter head and the pneumatic mucking system performing the shaft excavation.”
In this way personnel safety is prioritised while lining activities can be continued in parallel.
Bergteamet on rehab and robotics
For Bergteamet AB, the order of the day is currently shaft rehabilitation work, with the Nordic-focused contractor having carried out work to secure this vital infrastructure at several mines in the past 12-24 months.
When IM contacted Shaft Manager Jens Jonsson in early August to discuss the company’ s latest work, he was able to reflect on the company’ s most recent project in Sweden, helping“ secure” the first 350 m of one of two ventilation shafts at the Zinkgruvan operation( now owned by Boliden).
The two shafts, sunk via raisebore, have been designed to support the Dalby mine expansion at Zinkgruvan.
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