Industry 4.0 roll-out strategy for dynamic mine heat load management

Abstract

Deep-level mining is under severe financial pressure from several unique challenges. One of these is maintaining acceptable underground temperatures for humans to work in while achieving demanding production targets. As mines regularly reach new depths, additional heat is added to the system, contributing to this problem. Accurate mine heat load studies are therefore required to ensure that heat sources are actively evaluated, managed, and mitigated through adequate cooling practices. However, present heat load models are based on design parameters that cater for worst-case scenarios. Most of these models are also based on outdated empirical data taken at a time when mining differed from the present. Industry 4.0 technologies provide potential optimisation benefits when integrated with new heat load models to ensure effective monitoring, and consequently dynamic management, of heat sources. The roll-out strategy presented in this article will serve as a real alternative to earlier and outdated heat load prediction models.

Keywords

• deep-level mining
• accurate mine heat load
• management of heat sources