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Reducing the power consumption of large mine refrigeration plants.

Number: pap. ID: 729

Author(s) : CASTILLO D. O. del

Summary

This paper discusses different practical ways of reducing the power consumption of large refrigeration plants installed on mines from both a design and operational point of views and not from an electrical load-shifting point of view (i.e. thermal storage). Mines all over the world are becoming deeper, and hence the increased cooling capacity required, which in turn requires higher power consumptions. Much emphasis is being given to electrical load-shifting measures because of shortages in generated power forgetting that, if refrigeration machines are designed and operated properly, some substantial energy savings can be achieved. Refrigeration plants on mines are installed on surface and underground, which changes the criteria to be used. Surface mine refrigeration installations typically have an overall-coefficient-of-performance (OCOP), which includes auxiliaries, ranging between 3.75 and 4.5, with the refrigeration compressors typically having a coefficient-of-performance (COP) of between 5.5 and 6.5. Underground mine cooling installations can have OCOPs as low as 2 while the refrigeration compressors have COPs of between 3 and 3.5. This indicates that the auxiliaries are high energy consumers and hence the potential to save energy not only in operating the refrigeration compressors, which are the main energy drawers, but also in operating the auxiliaries. Different strategies and methodologies are available to minimise energy use when operating mine surface refrigeration systems. These are a combination of optimum design, improved control philosophies and cost (both capital and operational). Some of these are discussed hereunder.

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Pages: 10 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Reducing the power consumption of large mine refrigeration plants.
  • Record ID : 30002147
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Proceedings of the 23rd IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Prague, Czech Republic, August 21-26, 2011. Overarching theme: Refrigeration for Sustainable Development.
  • Publication date: 2011/08/21

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