LECTURE 10

THE CONTENTS OF THIS LECTURE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1.0 HEAT EXCHANGERS

2.0 CLASSIFICATION OF HEAT EXCHANGERS

2.1 Based on Flow of Fluid System

2.2 Based on Intermediate Medium

3.0 EXAMPLES OF HEAT EXCHANGERS

3.1 Evaporators and Condensers

3.2 Cooling Towers

3.3 Stope Coolers

4.0 SOME OTHER INDIRECT WAYS OF CONTROLLING MINE

CLIMATE

4.1 Acclimatization

4.2 Control of Moisture

4.3 Proper Ventilation System

REFERENCES

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1.0 HEAT EXCHANGERS

These are essential parts of all mine refrigeration plants. We all know that
refrigeration plants have the sole work of removing heat from mine intake air and
transferring this heat to the return air. This is done using heat exchangers. In other
words, heat exchangers are devices used to transfer thermal energy from one fluid
system to other (it is demonstrated later in this section). The transfer of heat from
mine intake air to return air takes place as shown in Fig. 1.

Stope intake air Chilled water in Refrigerant in the

the stope cooler evaporator

Return air in Cooling water in

cooling tower condenser

Fig. 1 Transfer of heat from intake air to return air

2.0 CLASSIFICATION OF HEAT EXCHANGERS

2.1 Based on Flow of Fluid System

Based on fluid system, heat exchangers are classified as:

a. Parallel flow type

b. Counter flow type

Let us consider Fig. 2 and Fig. 3

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 Fig. 2 Ideal counter flow (after Le Roux, 1972)

Fig. 3 Ideal parallel flow (after Le Roux, 1972)

Both the figures represent a system of concentric pipes in which fluids are flowing.
In Fig. 2, the fluids are flowing in opposite directions while in Fig. 3 the fluids are
flowing in the same directions. The former is called counter flow type and the latter
one is called parallel flow type. Let us consider the case wherein the same fluid is
flowing in both the pipes in counter flow type heat exchanger. Under ideal
condition, hot fluid can be cooled to the inlet temperature of the cold fluid (Fig. 2).
On the other hand in case of parallel flow type, for the same fluid flowing in both

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the pipes, a mean temperature is reached for both the fluids at the exit of the heat
exchanger (Fig. 3). However, the actual temperatures of the fluids flowing are
determined by a large number of factors which include, thickness of pipe, velocity
of fluids, mass flow rate of fluids, thermal capacity of fluids, viscosity of fluids, etc.

2. 2 Based on Intermediate Medium

Based on intermediate medium, heat exchangers are classified as:

a. Indirect heat exchangers

b. Direct heat exchangers

In direct heat exchangers a direct contact between the two fluid systems (cold and
hot fluid) exists, however in indirect heat exchangers it is not so. In indirect heat
exchangers, heat transfer between the two fluid system takes place through a
conducting solid placed in contact with the two fluids.

3.0 EXAMPLES OF HEAT EXCHANGERS

3.1 Evaporators and Condensers

o Normally of shell and tube type

o Indirect heat exchangers
o Usually made of copper or alloy of copper
o Range of velocity of fluid flowing : 1.5 3 m/s
o Tubes are made as thin as possible keeping in mind the requisite strength to
withstand the pressure of flowing fluids

3.2 Cooling Towers

o It is of counter flow type and an example of direct heat exchangers.

o In this type, cold water is sprayed at the top of tower and made to fall while
air is made to flow upward. Thus, the two fluids flow in opposite direction and
are in direct contact during heat transfer /exchange process.

3.3 Stope Coolers

o An example of counter flow type

o Basically an arrangement of finned tubes, in which chilled water flows inside
the tubes.

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4.0 SOME OTHER INDIRECT WAYS OF CONTROLLING MINE CLIMATE

4.1 Acclimatization

We have already made use of words acclimatized and non-acclimatized persons in

previous lectures. Acclimatized has been derived from the term acclimatization.
The word acclimatization means getting adjusted to a particular climate such that
there is no adverse effect on the individuals health as well as performance. Why do
we need to undergo acclimatization? A lay man would answer that an acclimatized
person is able to work efficiently in hot and humid climate, whereas a non-
acclimatized person is not able to work in such conditions. How does acclimatization
help? We have already learnt that on exposure to hot and humid climate, dilation of
blood vessels in the skin occur. This dilation does not immediately lead to increase
in volume of fluid in the circulatory system. Thats why, to meet the requirement of
increased volume of fluid, heart-rate increases. However, upon acclimatization of
three-four days, the circulatory volume increases, leading to the fall in heart-rate
and ultimately reaching the normal heart-beat rate.

Acclimatization is not an instantaneous process. Therefore, sufficient time should be

provided for proper acclimatization of a person. The work load and time of exposure
should be increased in proportion. The following 6-day acclimatization procedure
has been recommended by Misaqi et al. (1976):

First day 50 % exposure

Second day 60
Third day 70
Fourth day 80
Fifth day 90
Sixth day 100

It should be kept in mind that acclimatization is not permanent. An acclimatized

person loses the effect of acclimatization if he is on leave for a considerable number
of days. For such persons, 4 day acclimatization is recommended as per the
following schedule:

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First day 50 % exposure
Second day 60 % exposure
Third day 90 % exposure
Fourth day 100 % exposure

There are several other ways which are adopted for undergoing acclimatization.

It should also be noted that the effects (adjustment to) of exposure to hot and
humid climate while acclimatization is in process, is dependent on individuals
response to the particular environment. Some may get acclimatized easily while
some may never be able to get acclimatized.

4.2 Control of Moisture

We have already seen that the presence of water in mines supports rise in relative
humidity. This rise in relative humidity at high wet-bulb temperature is a serious
problem in underground mines. We can control moisture in mine air by controlling
(reducing) water sprays used for suppression of dust. Well positioned spray system
may be in a position to do the dust suppression with reduced amount of water.
Covering of drainage channels or use of pipes for flow of water in mines helps in
reducing moisture addition to mine air.

4.3 Proper Ventilation System

We all know that ventilation is the most crucial part of underground mines. A
considerable amount of heat is removed by ventilating air itself. We require
refrigeration system only if ventilation is not sufficient in making workable climate
underground. The following steps can help in controlling mine climate:

o Exhaust fans should be used instead of forcing fan. This is because forcing
fan adds heat to air entering the downcast shaft.
o Auxiliary system of ventilation should be practiced for ventilating face in long
headings.
o Air velocity should be well planned and should be around 1 m/s.

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Besides the above mentioned ways of controlling the mine climate, the other
factors influencing the mine climate are machinery used and method of mining
being practiced.

REFERENCES

Banerjee S.P. (2003); Mine Ventilation; Lovely Prakashan, Dhanbad, India.

Hartman, H. L., Mutmansky, J. M. & Wang, Y. J. (1982); Mine Ventilation and Air
Conditioning; John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Le Roux, W. L. (1972); Mine Ventilation Notes for Beginners; The Mine Ventilation
Society of South Africa.

McPherson, M. J. (1993); Subsurface Ventilation and Environmental Engineering;

Chapman & Hall, London.

Misaqi, F. L., Inderberg, J. G., Blumenstein, P. D. & Naiman, T. (1976); Heat

Stress in Hot US Mines and Criteria for Standards for Mining in Hot Environments;
Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration, Inf. Rept. 1048, pp. 67.

Misra G.B. (1986); Mine Environment and Ventilation; Oxford University Press,
Calcutta, India.

Vutukuri, V. S. & Lama, R. D. (1986); Environmental Engineering in Mines;

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

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