Artificial ground freezing of underground mines in cold regions using thermosyphons with air insulation

Current practice of underground artificial ground freezing(AGF)typically involves huge refrigeration systems of large economic and environmental costs.In this study,a novel AGF technique is proposed deploying available cold wind in cold regions.This is achieved by a static heat transfer device called thermosyphon equipped with an air insulation layer.A refrigeration unit can be optionally integrated to meet additional cooling requirements.The introduction of air insulation isolates the thermosyphon from ground zones where freezing is not needed,resulting in:(1)steering the cooling resources(cold wind or refrigeration)towards zones of interest;and(2)minimizing refrigeration load.This design is demonstrated using well-validated mathematical models from our previous work based on two-phase enthalpy method of the ground coupled with a thermal resistance network for the thermosyphon.Two Canadian mines are considered:the Cigar Lake Mine and the Giant Mine.The results show that our proposed design can speed the freezing time by 30%at the Giant Mine and by two months at the Cigar Lake Mine.Further,a cooling load of 2.4 GWh can be saved at the Cigar Lake Mine.Overall,this study provides mining practitioners with sustainable solutions of underground AGF.

A hybrid tubular standing support for underground mines:Compressive behaviour

This paper presents the development of an innovative standing support for underground mines.The main feature of this standing support is its exterior container,a combination of polyvinyl chloride(PVC)with large rupture strain and fibre-reinforced polymer(FRP)with high strength-to-weight ratio.To demonstrate the advantages of this cementitious grout filled PVC-FRP tubular(PFT)standing support,a series of compression tests were conducted.Test variables included the strength of cementitious grout infill material and the thickness of FRP jacket.Compression tests were also conducted on cementitious grout-filled PVC tubular(PT)support and cementitious grout-filled FRP tubular(FT)support.These tests showed that PFT support presents a typical strain-hardening behaviour together with an outstanding axial deformation ability(>20%of the overall height of the support).In addition,the maximum compressive strength of PFT support is much higher than that of the corresponding PT support and FT support.Furthermore,using thicker FRP jacket or high strength cementitious grout material can enhance the load carrying capacity of PFT support.These comparative results indicated that the high performance of PFT support is mainly attributed to the combination of confining constituents(i.e.PVC and FRP)and infill material.

Fuzzy inference system using genetic algorithm and pattern search for predicting roof fall rate in underground coal mines

One of the most dangerous safety hazard in underground coal mines is roof falls during retreat mining.Roof falls may cause life-threatening and non-fatal injuries to miners and impede mining and transportation operations.As a result,a reliable roof fall prediction model is essential to tackle such challenges.Different parameters that substantially impact roof falls are ill-defined and intangible,making this an uncertain and challenging research issue.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health assembled a national database of roof performance from 37 coal mines to explore the factors contributing to roof falls.Data acquired for 37 mines is limited due to several restrictions,which increased the likelihood of incompleteness.Fuzzy logic is a technique for coping with ambiguity,incompleteness,and uncertainty.Therefore,In this paper,the fuzzy inference method is presented,which employs a genetic algorithm to create fuzzy rules based on 109 records of roof fall data and pattern search to refine the membership functions of parameters.The performance of the deployed model is evaluated using statistical measures such as the Root-Mean-Square Error,Mean-Absolute-Error,and coefficient of determination(R_(2)).Based on these criteria,the suggested model outperforms the existing models to precisely predict roof fall rates using fewer fuzzy rules.

Residual subsidence time series model in mountain area caused by underground mining based on GNSS online monitoring

The residual subsidence caused by underground mining in mountain area has a long subsidence duration time and great potential harm,which seriously threatens the safety of people's production and life in the mining area.Therefore,it is necessary to use appropriate monitoring methods and mathematical models to effectively monitor and predict the residual subsidence caused by underground mining.Compared with traditional level survey and InSAR(Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar)technology,GNSS(Global Navigation Satellite System)online monitoring technology has the advantages of long-term monitoring,high precision and more flexible monitoring methods.The empirical equation method of residual subsidence in mining subsidence is effectively combined with the rock creep equation,which can not only describe the residual subsidence process from the mechanism,but also predict the residual subsidence.Therefore,based on GNSS online monitoring technology,combined with the mining subsidence model of mountain area and adding the correlation coefficient of the compaction degree of caving broken rock and the Kelvin model of rock mechanics,this paper constructs the residual subsidence time series model of arbitrary point on the ground in mountain area.Through the example,the predicted results of the model in the inversion parameter phase and the dynamic prediction phase are compared with the measured data sequence.The results show that the model can carry out effective numerical calculation according to the GNSS monitoring data of any point on the ground,and the model prediction effect is good,which provides a new method for the prediction of residual subsidence in mountain mining.

Environmental impact improvements due to introducing automation into underground copper mines

A life-cycle assessment(LCA) model was developed to comparatively analyze the use of manual and automated mining equipment in underground copper mine sites.Processes and key variables that were determined to contribute to the environmental impact of operations were identified for six mine sites in a range of geographical locations around the world.Our model successfully calculated carbon dioxide(CO_(2) eq.) emissions to within 4.9% of the reported annual emissions from the site's respective companies.The implementation of automation was found to decrease global warming potential by a range of 11.4%-18.0% or 3.9-17.9 kg CO_(2) eq./t ore.The model was also used to estimate the average reductions across several impact potentials including,acidification(11.9%-17.8%),eutrophication(7.6%-13.7%),and human toxicity(16.0%-20.0%).World-wide the mining industry is moving toward introducing significantly more automation to enhance productivity and safety.This novel work demonstrates an important third dimension that can support this move,reduced environmental impact.

Rock mass structural recognition from drill monitoring technology in underground mining using discontinuity index and machine learning techniques

A procedure to recognize individual discontinuities in rock mass from measurement while drilling(MWD)technology is developed,using the binary pattern of structural rock characteristics obtained from in-hole images for calibration.Data from two underground operations with different drilling technology and different rock mass characteristics are considered,which generalizes the application of the methodology to different sites and ensures the full operational integration of MWD data analysis.Two approaches are followed for site-specific structural model building:a discontinuity index(DI)built from variations in MWD parameters,and a machine learning(ML)classifier as function of the drilling parameters and their variability.The prediction ability of the models is quantitatively assessed as the rate of recognition of discontinuities observed in borehole logs.Differences between the parameters involved in the models for each site,and differences in their weights,highlight the site-dependence of the resulting models.The ML approach offers better performance than the classical DI,with recognition rates in the range 89%to 96%.However,the simpler DI still yields fairly accurate results,with recognition rates 70%to 90%.These results validate the adaptive MWD-based methodology as an engineering solution to predict rock structural condition in underground mining operations.

Safety analysis of Sormeh underground mine to improve sublevel stoping stability

In underground mines,sublevel stoping is used among a variety of different methods for mining an orebody,which creates large underground openings.In this case,the stability of these openings is affected by a number of factors,including the geometrical characteristics of the rock and mining-induced stresses.In this study,a sensitivity analysis was conducted with the numerical,squat pillar,and Mathews stability methods using the Taguchi technique to properly understand the influence of geometric parameters and stress on stope stability according to Sormeh underground mine data.The results show a full factorial analysis is more reliable since stope stability is a complex process.Furthermore,the numerical results indicate that overburden stress has the most impact on stope stability,followed by stope height.However,the results obtained with Mathews and squat pillar methods show that stope height has the greatest impact,followed by overburden stress and span.It appears that these methods overestimate the impact of stope height.Therefore,it is highly recommended that Mathews and squat pillar methods should not be used in high stope that is divided with several sill pillars.Nonetheless,Mathews method cannot accurately predict how the sill pillar impacts the stope stability.In addition,numerical analysis shows that all geometric parameters affect the roof safety factor,whereas the sill pillar has no significant influence on the safety factor of the hanging wall,which is primarily determined by the stope height–span ratio.

Numerical study on DPM dispersion and distribution in an underground development face based on dynamic mesh

In 2012,the International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)classified diesel particulate matter(DPM)as a carcinogen to human.With the increased usage of diesel equipment in underground mines,miners have a high risk of over-exposure to DPM,which has drawn many concerns from the public.This study used computational fluid dynamics(CFD)to analyse the DPM dispersion and concentration distribution characteristics in an underground development face based on an onsite experiment.The DPM emitted from a moving loader under a forcing auxiliary ventilation system was simulated.The motion of the load-haul-dump(LHD)in the tunnel was represented by a dynamic mesh method.The species transport approach was applied to study the DPM behaviours.High DPM concentration zones were then identified based on the simulation results.The results could provide guidelines for work practices and be helpful to an optimum auxiliary ventilation design to reduce underground miner exposure.

Optimal mining sequence for coal faces under a bedding slope:insight from landslide prevention

Repetitive mining beneath bedding slopes is identified as a critical factor in geomorphic disturbances, especially landslides and surface subsidence. Prior research has largely concentrated on surface deformation in plains due to multi-seam coal mining and the instability of natural bedding slopes, yet the cumulative impact of different mining sequences on bedding slopes has been less explored. This study combines drone surveys and geological data to construct a comprehensive three-dimensional model of bedding slopes. Utilizing FLAC3D and PFC2D models, derived from laboratory experiments, it simulates stress, deformation, and failure dynamics of slopes under various mining sequences. Incorporating fractal dimension analysis, the research evaluates the stability of slopes in relation to different mining sequences. The findings reveal that mining in an upslope direction minimizes disruption to overlying strata. Initiating extraction from lower segments increases tensile-shear stress in coal pillar overburdens, resulting in greater creep deformation towards the downslope than when starting from upper segments, potentially leading to localized landslides and widespread creep deformation in mined-out areas. The downslope upward mining sequence exhibits the least fractal dimensions, indicating minimal disturbance to both strata and surface. While all five mining scenarios maintain good slope stability under normal conditions, recalibrated stability assessments based on fractal dimensions suggest that downslope upward mining offers the highest stability under rainfall, contrasting with the lower stability and potential instability risks of upslope downward mining. These insights are pivotal for mining operations and geological hazard mitigation in multi-seam coal exploitation on bedding slopes.

A comprehensive geomechanical method for the assessment of rockburst hazards in underground mining

Rockburst hazard in mining industry all over the world is one of the most severe hazards. It is becoming increasingly common because of the ever-growing depths of mining operations accompanied by the increasing strength of rocks. One of the most difficult issues is to predict this hazard before the mining operations, whether geophysical investigations have been conducted or not. Polish experience in this field shows that in such cases an effective solution can be the geomechanical method. Therefore, extensive studies on rockburst hazard should focus on three main aspects:(1) rock mass and rock(and coal)predisposition to rockburst–laboratory tests and empirical analyses based on lithology,(2) identification of the potential places with stress and elastic energy concentration in the rock mass within the area planned for exploitation, and(3) the assessment of the impact of mining tremors on the surface. This preliminary geomechanical analysis assesses the propensity of the rock mass to dynamic breakage and provides quantitatively the level of rockburst hazard. The paper presents Polish experience in rockburst hazard assessment with the use of geomechanical method, as well as some solutions and examples of such analyses.

Application of open-pit and underground mining technology for residual coal of end slopes

Given the conditions of residual coal from the boundary of a flat dipping open-pit mine,which uses strip areas mining and inner dumping with slope-covering,we propose an open-pit and underground integrated mining technology for residual coal of end slopes.In the proposal a conveyance road and ventilation conveyance near the slope are built,corresponding to the pit mining area and the surface coal mine dump,as well as an interval haulage tunnel and air-inlet tunnel.The outcome shows that such mining method may reduce the effect to slope stability from underground mining,it does not affect the dumping advance and has a high recovery rate of residual coal resources.The working face is timbered by single hydraulic props,transported by a scraper conveyor and supported by coal walls.This method of mining is one of layered top coal caving,with high resource recovery,low production cost where positive economic benefit can be realized.

Main geological and mining factors affecting ground cracks induced by underground coal mining in Shanxi Province, China

As one of the largest coal-rich provinces in China,Shanxi has extensive underground coal-mining operations.These operations have caused numerous ground cracks and substantial environmental damage.To study the main geological and mining factors influencing mining-related ground cracks in Shanxi,a detailed investigation was conducted on 13 mining-induced surface cracks in Shanxi.Based on the results,the degrees of damage at the study sites were empirically classified into serious,moderate,and minor,and the influential geological and mining factors(e.g.,proportions of loess and sandstone in the mining depth,ratio of rock thickness to mining thickness,and ground slope)were discussed.According to the analysis results,three factors(proportion of loess,ratio of rock thickness to mining thickness,and ground slope)play a decisive role in ground cracks and can be respectively considered as the critical material,mechanical,and geometric conditions for the occurrence of mining surface disasters.Together,these three factors have a strong influence on the occurrence of serious discontinuous ground deformation.The results can be applied to help prevent and control ground damage caused by coal mining.The findings also provide a direct reference for predicting and eliminating hidden ground hazards in mining areas.

A system for underground road condition monitoring

Poor road conditions in underground mine tunnels can lead to decreased production efficiency and increased wear on production vehicles. A prototype system for road condition monitoring is presented in this paper to counteract this. The system consists of three components i.e. localization, road monitoring, and scheduling. The localization of vehicles is performed using a Rao-Blackwellized extended particle filter, combining vehicle mounted sensors with signal strengths of Wi Fi access points. Two methods for road monitoring are described: a Kalman filter used together with a model of the vehicle suspension system, and a relative condition measure based on the power spectral density. Lastly, a method for taking automatic action on an ill-conditioned road segment is proposed in the form of a rescheduling algorithm.The scheduling algorithm is based on the large neighborhood search and is used to integrate road service activities in the short-term production schedule while minimizing introduced production disturbances.The system is demonstrated on experimental data collected in a Swedish underground mine.

Evaluation of the impact of commodity price change on mine plan of underground mining

Fluctuations in commodity prices should influence mining operations to continually update and adjust their mine plans in order to capture additional value under new market conditions. One of the adjustments is the change in production sequencing. This paper seeks to present a method for quantifying the net present value(NPV) that may be directly attributed to the change in commodity prices. The evaluation is conducted across ten copper price scenarios. Discrete event simulation combined with mixed integer programming was used to attain a viable production strategy and to generate optimal mine plans. The analysis indicates that an increase in prices results in an increased in the NPV from$96.57M to $755.65M. In an environment where mining operations must be striving to gain as much value as possible from the rights to exploit a finite resource, it is not appropriate to keep operating under the same mine plan if commodity prices alter during the course of operations.

European legal framework related to underground mining and tunnelling concerning commission directive (EU) 2017/164, 31 January establishing a fourth list of indicative occupational exposure limit values

Directive(EU)2017/164 establishes a fourth list of indicative occupational exposure limit values(IOELVs)to protect workers from risks of exposure to hazardous chemicals.It states that in underground mining and tunnelling,Member States may benefit from a transitional period regarding IOELVs for nitrogen monoxide,nitrogen dioxide,and carbon monoxide,during which the existing established IOELVs may be applied.The European Advisory Committee on Health and Safety at Work questions the technical feasibility of the proposed IOELVs in underground mining(CO,NO and NO2)and tunnelling(NO and NO2).Challenges arise concerning the availability of measurement methodologies for compliance with proposed IOELVs(NO2)in underground mining and tunnelling environments.

Surface subsidence due to underground mining operation under weak geological condition in Indonesia

Subsidence analysis and prediction with measured data have been conducted and applied to local strata and mining conditions worldwide. Underground coal mines chose the most suitable analysis and prediction method for them. However, there was no study based on the measured data of subsidence induced by underground mining operation in Indonesia. This paper describes the condition of underground coal mine in Indonesia and then discusses the subsidence behavior due to longwall mining operation based on measured data in Balikpapan coal-bearing formation in Indonesia.

Semi-real time systems for subsidence monitoring in areas affected by underground mining:the example of the Nuraxi-Figus coal district(Sardinia,Italy)

Underground mining can produce subsidence,which can be coincident with mining activities or delayed in response to the time-dependent deformation of the rocks.Therefore,in these cases,it is essential to effectively monitor the soil deformations at different times during and after mining activity.In the present work,an integrated approach based on geotechnical numeri-cal modeling and Advanced Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar(A-DInSAR)method has been applied to detect,study and monitor the subsidence related to mining activity in the Nuraxi Figus coal district(Sardinia,Italy).Two datasets of high-resolution COSMO-Skymed images were acquired,respectively in two covering periods:from 2011 and 2014,and from 2013 to 2020.TheAA-DInSAR results show that the predominant displacement rates are located in correspond-ence with the panels.The cumulated satellite-based LoS displacements vary in the first period between-130 and+28 mm and-293 and+28.4 mm,while,during the second period between-6.9 and+1.6 mm and-8.72 and+4.33 mm in ascend-ing and descending geometries,respectively.The geotechnical numerical model allowed to obtain a value for the maximum expected.By using the vertical and horizontal components it was possible to reconstruct the kinematics of the deformation considering three phases:pre-mining,syn-mining,and post-mining activity.The temporal evolution of displacements started during the mining extraction in 2011,achieved the major values in correspondence of post-mining operations,during the period from 2013 to 2014 and continued slowly until 2020.The near real-time monitoring system applied in this study proved to be very useful for detecting subsidence during the mining activity and the post-mining period.

Underground mine stream crossing assessment:A multi-disciplinary approach

Underground mine designs typically try to avoid extraction beneath streams and rivers of any significant size,especially when the overburden rock thickness between the stream bed and the mine is thin.Potential issues with mining beneath streams include excessive groundwater inflow to the mine,weak ground(roof,floor,and pillar)conditions,horizontal stress effects,as well as stream loss and other potential adverse environmental effects.However,there are times when crossing beneath a stream or river is necessary to move into a new area of mineral reserve without creating additional mine access points from the ground surface.Often,stream crossings are completed without thorough assessment,potentially resulting in increased costs,decreased safety,and,in some cases,failure to advance the mine.Selection of the most favorable location(s)to cross the stream must account for numerous factors and the associated assessment often requires a multi-disciplinary approach.Stream crossing investigations often require geological,hydrogeological,geotechnical,and geophysical expertise.Phases of stream crossing investigations include desktop evaluation of maps and aerial photography,stream bed observations,drilling,detailed rock core logging,downhole geophysical surveying,hydraulic conductivity testing(packer testing),geotechnical laboratory testing,assessment,and reporting.The deliverables from a stream crossing assessment typically include geological,geotechnical,and hydrogeological characterization of potential stream crossing locations,classification of favorable and unfavorable crossing locations,recommendations for entry design and pillar sizing,and recommendations for if,and how,to conduct pre-grouting activities.Examples of technical aspects of data collection and assessment are provided based on decades of industry experience conducting stream crossing assessments in various underground mining scenarios.

Long-term economic sensitivity analysis of light duty underground mining vehicles by power source

LHD's are expensive vehicles; therefore, it is important to accurately define the financial consequences associated with the investment of purchasing the mining equipment. This study concentrates on longterm incremental and sensitivity analysis to determine whether it is feasible to incorporate current battery technology into these machines. When revenue was taken into account, decreasing the amount of haulage in battery operated equipment by 5% or 200 kg per h amounts to a $4.0 × 10~4 loss of profit per year. On average it was found that using battery operated equipment generated $9.5 × 10~4 more in income annually, reducing the payback period from seven to two years to pay back the additional $1.0 × 10~5 investment of buying battery powered equipment over cheaper diesel equipment. Due to the estimated 5% increase in capital, it was observed that electric vehicles must possess a lifetime that is a minimum of one year longer than that of diesel equipment.

Diesel and welding aerosols in an underground mine

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)conducted a study in an isolated zone of an underground mine to characterize aerosols generated by:(1)a diesel-powered personnel carrier vehicle operated over a simulated light-duty cycle and(2)the simulated repair of existing equipment using manual metal arc welding(MMAW).Both the diesel-powered vehicle and MMAW process contributed to concentrations of nano and ultrafine aerosols in the mine air.The welding process also contributed to aerosols with electrical mobility and aerodynamic mobility count median diameters of approximately 140 and 480 nm,respectively.The welding particles collected on the filters contained carbon,iron,manganese,calcium,and aluminum.