IMPROVED AIR HANDLING AND COOLING IN A MINE

摘要

A method and system for supplying power to a mine, particularly during periods of high peak-power electrical power rates or low power grid availability, is achieved by liquefying air and storing it in a storage vessel. The liquefied air is fed to a series of heat exchangers where it will be warmed, becoming gaseous air at higher pressure. This gaseous air is fed to a turbo expander where cold air and power are produced. The cold air can be fed to an appropriate storage unit, or directly fed to the mine shafts to provide cooling of personnel and reduce direct means of cooling such as crushed ice and indirect means such as chilled air from a traditional over-ground ammonia chilled air refrigeration system. The power generated by the turbo expander will be recovered and used to provide power to the mine.