Adsorption machine for mining environment

Abstract

A mine ventilation system includes a fan configured to circulate air through a mine. The mine ventilation system also includes an adsorption machine having adsorbent elements configured to receive an airflow directed by the fan and capture particles from the airflow. The adsorption elements are also configured to release the particles captured from the airflow.

Description

ADSORPTION MACHINE FOR MINING ENVIRONMENTCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 555,727, entitled “ADSORPTION MACHINE FOR MINING ENVIRONMENT,” filed February 20, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of adsorption machines and, in particular, to an adsorption machine incorporated in a mine.BACKGROUND

[0003] In mining environments, one or more fans are used to circulate air through a mine to ventilate different parts of the mine. For example, the mine is located underground, and one or more intake fans may provide air from a surface atmosphere into the underground infrastructure. Additionally or alternatively, one or more exhaust fans may direct air from the mine out to the surface atmosphere. As a result, the fans remove and replenish the air within the mine.SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a rotary adsorption machine that is incorporated into a mine ventilation system. The mine ventilation system includes a fan configured to circulate air through a mine and an adsorption machine having adsorbent elements configured to receive air directed by the fan and capture one or more target substances from air directed by the fan without detrimentally impacting ventilation provided by the fan.

[0005] In one embodiment, a mine ventilation system is presented. The mine ventilation system includes a fan configured to circulate air through a mine and an adsorption machinecomprising adsorbent elements configured to receive an airflow directed by the fan and capture particles from the airflow.

[0006] In another embodiment, an adsorption machine for a mine is presented. The adsorption machine includes ductwork configured to receive an airflow from a fan ventilating the mine, as well as adsorbent elements configured to receive the airflow from the ductwork, adsorb particles from the airflow, and release the particles adsorbed from the airflow.

[0007] In yet another embodiment, a method is presented. The method includes directing an airflow through a mine, adsorbing particles from the airflow via an adsorption machine, and releasing the particles from the adsorption machine.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the present disclosure, a set of drawings is provided. The drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the present disclosure, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the disclosure, but just as an example of how the disclosure can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a general layout of a mine, according to an embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top, front perspective view of a rotary adsorption machine (RAM) configured to be incorporated in a mine, according to an embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an adsorption machine configured to be incorporated in a mine, according to an embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the adsorption machine of FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for operating an adsorption machine, according to an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is given solely for the purpose of describing the broad principles of the disclosure. Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of example, with reference to the above-mentioned drawings showing elements and results according to the present disclosure.

[0015] Mines include infrastructure and equipment to extract resources, such as minerals, from the Earth. In some implementations, certain parts of a mine may not be easily accessible. For example, the mine may be formed underground and include various zones that are located far from a surface atmosphere. For this reason, fans are used to ventilate a mine by directing air into and out of the mine, such as through each zone. To this end, the fans are operated at a speed to direct air at a sufficient flow rate through the mine.

[0016] One or more adsorption machines may be utilized to receive the fluid flow directed by the fans. Adsorption machines are deployed to recover specific gasses, elements, and / or particulates, such as for point source carbon capture and / or for direct air carbon capture. Adsorption machines include an adsorbent material, such as activated carbon, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), or zeolite (e.g., hydrated aluminosilicates of alkaline and alkaline-earth metals). When a process gas, such as a carbon dioxide (CC>2)-laden gas, enters the adsorption machines, the target gasses, elements, and / or particulates (e.g., CO2) is / are adsorbed onto the adsorbent material. The target substance is then released from the adsorbent material via a desorption process so that the target substance can be captured, processed, or used. The desorption process is caused by a change in pressure and / or a change in temperature (e.g., by passing steam through the adsorbent material and / or by heating the adsorbent material via electric heating elements).

[0017] Overall, the adsorption machines are configured to extract particles from fluid flows provided by existing equipment of a mine, such as to improve the environmental health of thesurface atmosphere. However, operating an adsorption machine can often be resource intensive, which can weigh against environmental gains provided by the adsorption machine. Thus, it is important to achieve a particular efficiency with which an adsorption machine is operated in order to realize a significant impact to environmental health. Incorporating adsorption machines in mines can leverage mine infrastructure to improve the efficiency of the adsorption machine and correspondingly improve the environmental gains provided by the adsorption machine.

[0018] FIG. 1 represents a general mine ventilation layout with fluid flow control equipment. As shown in FIG. 1, a mine 50 may generally include the following elements: one or more exhaust fans 1; one or more intake fans 2 (e.g., surface fans); one or more downcast shafts 3; one or more upcast shafts 4; mine levels 5, 6, 7 having one or more extraction zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (e.g., ore extraction zones); one or more auxiliary fans 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; and ducting. The mine 50 may also include one or more service areas 29 with an associated auxiliary fan 30. The mine layout provided in FIG. 1 is for example purposes only and embodiments are not limited thereto. Indeed, it should be noted that the techniques discussed herein may be employed in any other suitable context, such as a different type of mine layout and / or any other environment having fans, including fans providing sufficiently large airflows and / or have spare capacity to increase airflow being provided.

[0019] Generally, the one or more intake fans 2 provide air from the surface atmosphere to the underground infrastructure via the one or more downcast shafts 3. The one or more downcast shafts 3 provide fresh air and allow hoses to supply fluid to working levels where production occurs on the one or more extraction zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 off each level 5, 6, 7. Ramps or access shafts 8, 9 may divert some air between each level 5, 6, 7. The ramps 8, 9 also provide a route for equipment to move from one level to another. Ore and waste material may be extracted from the extraction zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 by machinery and may be droppedin or passed down to lower levels to be crushed and brought back to the surface by conveyors in shafts elements 26, 27. In some implementations, the machinery may be fueled by diesel fuel, natural gas, or other fuels.

[0020] Air may be forced from each level to the extraction zones or service areas 10, 11, 29, 12, 13, 14 by the auxiliary fans 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19 and ducting connected to the auxiliary fans 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19. The diesel particulate emission contaminated air from the extraction zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 is directed along each level 5, 6, 7 via the ore extraction, and the contaminated air may flow to the one or more upcast shafts 4 through bulkheads via variable flow regulators 23, 24, 25. Operation of the one or more intake fans 2 may help direct the contaminated air along the levels 5, 6, 7 toward the one or more upcast shafts 4. However, in some embodiments, any of the levels 5, 6, 7, such as a lower level that is positioned farther away from the one or more intake fans 2, may include an additional booster fan 28 to help direct the contaminated air therethrough. In some modem implementations, flow measurement stations 20, 21, 22 may be installed at the bulkheads to determine whether sufficient fluid flow (e.g., airflow) is directed through each level 5, 6, 7 for ventilating the mine 50. The one or more exhaust fans 1 draw air from the one or more upcast shafts 4 out to the surface atmosphere.

[0021] The speed of any of the fans 1, 2, 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19 and / or the position of any of the flow regulators 23, 24, 25 may be manually and / or automatically controlled by a local controller and / or by a basic control system with surface HMI (Human Machine Interface). The control system may also include startup and shutdown sequences and protection interlocks. In some embodiments, the speed of the fans 1, 2, 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19 may be adjusted based on data received from the flow measurement stations 20, 21, 22 (e.g., the speed may be increased based on a flow measurement being below a threshold amount) to provide sufficient ventilation of the mine 50.

[0022] One or more adsorption machines may be incorporated in the mine 50 to capture and extract particles from the fluid flows directed through the mine 50. For instance, a first adsorption machine 52 may be positioned in or adjacent one of the downcast shafts 3 to receive a fluid flow (e.g., ambient air) directed by the intake fan(s) 2. Thus, the first adsorption machine 52 captures particles from air directed from the surface atmosphere into the mine 50, such as to remove certain particles before the air is circulated through a remainder of the mine 50. Additionally or alternatively, a second adsorption machine 54 may be positioned in or adjacent one of the upcast shafts 4 to receive a fluid flow (e.g., contaminated air, gas) directed by the exhaust fan(s) 1. As such, the second adsorption machine 54 captures particles from air directed from the mine 50 into the surface atmosphere, such as to avoid emitting such particles into the surface atmosphere. In further embodiments, a third adsorption machine 56 may be positioned farther in the mine 50 away from the surface atmosphere to capture particles from air directed between the downcast shaft(s) 3 and the upcast shaft(s) 4. For example, the third adsorption machine 56 may be positioned in any of the levels 5, 6, 7, the ramps 8, 9, the extraction zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, the service areas 29, or anywhere therebetween to capture particles from air directed within the mine 50 (e.g., air directed by any of the auxiliary fans 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19 or booster fans 28).

[0023] In any case, the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 may be readily implemented in the mine 50 to capture particles from fluid flow provided by already existing equipment used to operate the mine 50. For instance, the benefits provided by the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 may be realized without having to further modify other aspects of the mine 50, such as to include certain additional components (e.g., a dedicated fan directing air through the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 without ventilating the mine 50) and / or adjust another operation of the mine 50. Indeed, an existing mine 50 may be readily retrofitted with any of the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56. Similarly, benefits provided by the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 maybe realized without having to modify aspects of the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56. In fact, the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 may leverage mine infrastructure, such as intake fan(s) 2, exhaust fan(s) 1 to create a fluid flow through the adsorption machine that is sufficient to facilitate adsorption and, thus, need not include or be installed with a dedicated fan that drives an adsorption fluid flow. However, importantly, while the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 may leverage mine infrastructure, the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 will not change fluid flow characteristics in a manner that renders the mine infrastructure unsuitable for ventilating the mine 50. In other words, the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 provide environmental benefits without detrimentally impacting operation of the mine infrastructure (e.g., of the intake fan(s) 2, of the exhaust fan(s) 1).

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a rotary adsorption machine (RAM) 90 that may be used as any of the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 of the mine 50. The RAM 90 includes a rotor 92 that is rotatable within a housing 100. Thus, the housing 100 may be specifically designed to enclose and seal against portions of the rotor 92 to help dictate how and where air will enter, exit, or move with the rotor 92.

[0025] The rotor 92 is configured to continuously rotate around a central hub 98 to move radially aligned adsorbent elements through a cycle of zones (e.g., through zones Zl, Z2, and Z3). During rotation of the rotor 92, the housing 100 circumferentially retains gas in the rotor 92 to create pathways along which fluid can axially enter or exit the rotor 92. The circumferential retention is achieved by positioning a cylindrical section 108 of the housing 100 against an outer shell of the rotor 92 and / or with sector plate assemblies 94 and 96. Moreover, axial seal plates, axial seals, and / or circumferential seals (e.g., leaf seals, contact seals, etc.) may be positioned between the rotor 92 and the outer shell of rotor 92 to prevent or at least discourage leakage therebetween.

[0026] In the depicted embodiment, the RAM 90 includes three stationary ducts that are generally aligned with zones Zl, Z2, and Z3: (1) a first stationary duct 110 generally aligned with an adsorption zone Zl; (2) a second stationary duct 130 generally aligned with a desorption zone Z2; and (3) a third stationary duct 150 generally aligned with a regeneration zone Z3. A first fluid flow Fl (e.g., ambient air, exhaust air), which is an adsorbing flow, entering the first stationary duct 110 generally flows in a first longitudinal direction (e.g., downwards), while a second fluid flow F2 and a third fluid flow F3 (a desorbing flow and regenerative flow, respectively) entering stationary ducts 130 and 150 generally flow in an opposite longitudinal direction (e.g., upwards).

[0027] As can be seen, a first sector assembly 94 separates the adsorption zone Zl (generally aligned with first stationary duct 110) from both the desorption zone Z2 (generally aligned with the second stationary duct 130) and the regeneration zone Z3 (generally aligned with the third stationary duct 150). Additionally, a second sector assembly 96 separates the desorption zone Z2 and the regeneration zone Z3. Thus, during rotation, the adsorbent elements in the rotor 92 move in or out of the adsorption zone Zl (e.g., from the regeneration zone Z3 or to the desorption zone Z2) by passing through the first sector assembly 94. Meanwhile, the adsorbent elements in the rotor 92 move from the desorption zone Z2 to the regeneration zone Z3 by passing through the second sector assembly 96. Although the illustrated RAM 90 includes three zones Zl, Z2, Z3, in other instances, one or more sector assemblies can delineate any other suitable number of zones in the annular space between the central hub 98 of the rotor 92 and the cylindrical section 108 of the housing 100 (e.g., for a trisector, quad-sector, etc. RAM).

[0028] Rotation of the rotor 92 about the central hub 98 adjusts exposure of the rotor 92 to the different fluid flows Fl, F2 by changing the positioning of the adsorbent elements relative to the flow paths of the fluid flows Fl, F2. By way of example, a portion of the rotor 92 mayinitially be positioned within the first stationary duct 110 and therefore within the flow path of the first fluid flow Fl to receive the first fluid flow Fl. The adsorbent elements of the portion of the rotor 92 encounter the first fluid flow Fl to adsorb a specific portion of the first fluid flow Fl having a target substance (e.g., carbon dioxide). The adsorbent elements can retain the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow Fl while the rotor 92 rotates to move the portion of the rotor 92 toward the second stationary duct 130. Meanwhile, a portion of the first fluid flow Fl that is not captured by the adsorbent elements (e.g., and does not contain substantial amounts of the target substance) may exit the rotor 92 as a filtered fluid flow Fl’, such as to another part of the mine 50 and / or to the surface atmosphere. Indeed, although a portion of the first fluid flow Fl is captured by the adsorbent elements, the first fluid flow Fl may be directed at a sufficient flow velocity such that an adequate amount of the filtered fluid flow Fl’ is discharged from the RAM 90, such as for ventilating the mine 50.

[0029] While positioned in the second stationary duct 130, the adsorbent elements of the portion of the rotor 92 are positioned in the flow path of the second fluid flow F2 to encounter the second fluid flow F2 directed through the second stationary duct 130. Consequently, the second fluid flow F2 causes the adsorbent elements carrying the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow Fl to desorb the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow Fl . For example, steam may be directed through the rotor 92 as the second fluid flow F2 to create a temperature change that releases carbon dioxide from the adsorbent elements for carbon capture. Consequently, a process fluid flow F2’ carries the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow Fl, and therefore the target substance, and exits the rotor 92. For instance, the process fluid flow F2’ that retains carbon dioxide may be directed to a storage tank, a condenser, and / or a stripper, e.g., to prevent the carbon dioxide from entering or re-entering the surface atmosphere (e.g., to remove carbon dioxide from the surface atmosphere).

[0030] After the adsorbent elements of the portion of the rotor 92 desorb the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow Fl, the rotor 92 rotates to move the portion of the rotor 92 toward the third stationary duct 150. While positioned in the third stationary duct 150, the adsorbent elements of the portion of the rotor 92 are positioned in the third flow path of the third fluid flow F3 (e.g., a conditioning air) and encounter the third fluid flow F3 directed through the third stationary duct 150. The third fluid flow F3 enters the portion of rotor 92 to prepare the adsorbent elements of the portion of the rotor 92 (e.g., by cooling the adsorbent elements) to better adsorb the target substance from the first fluid flow Fl, and the third fluid flow F3 exits as an outlet flow F3 ’ . In some embodiments, the third fluid flow F3 may not be utilized and, instead, rotation of the rotor 92 may move the portion of rotor 92 alternately between the first stationary duct 110 and the second stationary duct 130 to adsorb and desorb a portion of the first fluid flow Fl via the adsorbent elements of the rotor 92.

[0031] FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate another example adsorption machine 200 that may be used as any of the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56 of the mine 50, and elements of the adsorption machine 200 in FIGs. 3 and 4 will be described together for ease of discussion. The adsorption machine 200 includes a stationary matrix 210, which may be a stator instead of a rotor (e.g., instead of the rotor 34). To move adsorbent elements 212 (e.g., structures including adsorbent material) in the stationary matrix 210 through an adsorbing cycle (e.g., repeatedly adsorbing and desorbing), the adsorption machine 200 includes a movable duct system 250 (e.g., movable ductwork) that moves with respect to the stationary matrix 210. In the depicted embodiment, the movable duct system 250 includes movable duct portions disposed within a stationary duct system 280 (e.g., stationary ductwork).

[0032] The stationary duct system 280 generally guides a first fluid flow Fl (e.g., an adsorbing flow) to the adsorbent elements 212 so that the adsorbent elements 212 can adsorb a specific portion of the first fluid flow Fl having a target substance. The adsorbent elements212 can retain the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow Fl until the adsorbent elements 212 are exposed to a second fluid flow F2 (e.g., a desorbing flow). For instance, the stationary duct system 280 directs the first fluid flow Fl to a portion of the stationary matrix 210 to cause the adsorbent elements 212 to adsorb respective portions of the first fluid flow Fl. The movable duct system 250 then moves into alignment with the portion of the stationary matrix 210 to block flow of the first fluid flow Fl to the portion of the stationary matrix 210, prevent, or at least discourage, the adsorbent elements from adsorbing further portions of the first fluid flow Fl, and to guide the second fluid flow F2 to the portion of the stationary matrix 210, thereby causing the adsorbent elements 212 at the portion of the stationary matrix 210 to desorb the respective adsorbed portions of the first fluid flow F 1. Thus, movement of the movable duct system 250 causes the stationary matrix 210 to sequentially and iteratively capture the target substance via the first fluid flow F 1 and release the target substance via the second fluid flow F2.

[0033] In the depicted embodiment, the stationary matrix 210 is a cylindrical structure centered around an axis 218 and bounded by an outer shell 220. The stationary matrix 210 extends along the axis 218, from a first end 214 to a second end 216. In the depicted embodiment, the stationary matrix 210 is horizontally oriented so that the first end 214 is atop surface of the cylinder and the second end 216 is a bottom surface of the cylinder. However, in other embodiments, the stationary matrix 210 may be shaped or oriented differently. For example, the stationary matrix 210 may be a cylindrically-shaped, but vertically oriented structure, with the first end 214 and second end 216 defining left and right sides of the stationary matrix 210. Regardless, the adsorbent elements 212 generally define channels 213 that extend through the stationary matrix 210 in a direction that is generally parallel to the axis 218. To be clear, “generally parallel” may mean that a general extension direction of thechannels 213 (which can be skewed, irregular, snaked, twisted, wavy, etc.) is parallel to the axis 218.

[0034] The adsorbent elements 212 are generally organized around the axis 218. For example, the adsorbent elements 212 may be grouped into sector-shaped containers that are coupled together to form the stationary matrix 210 and / or are installed in a chassis of the stationary matrix 210. Additionally or alternatively, the stationary matrix 210 may include circumferential plates to subdivide containers and / or the chassis. In any case, the adsorbent elements 212 may be stored and / or installed within the stationary matrix 210. For example, the adsorbent elements 212 may be “dropped down” into the containers to fdl the stationary matrix 210 with adsorbent material. Regardless of how the stationary matrix 210 is formed or constructed, the adsorbent elements 212 may be formed from any suitable adsorbent material now known or developed hereafter, such as for adsorbing carbon dioxide.

[0035] The stationary matrix 210 does not move during operations of the adsorption machine 200. That is, the stationary matrix 210 does not move or rotate around a central hub arranged coaxial with its axis 218. Thus, the stationary matrix 210 may be sufficiently supported without certain structures, such as large, complicated bearings, and need not seal against a housing that circumferentially surrounds the stationary matrix 210. Instead, the outer shell 220 may be the outer boundary of the stationary matrix 210 and may also serve as a flow boundary for flows (e.g., the first fluid flow Fl, the second fluid flow F2) entering and exiting the stationary matrix 210.

[0036] The movable duct system 250 rotates with respect to the stationary matrix 210. More specifically, in the depicted embodiment, the movable duct system 250 includes four movable (e.g., rotatable) duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 that rotate with respect to the stationary matrix 210 and with respect to stationary ducts. The first duct portion 252 and the third duct portion 256 (e.g., inlet duct potions) are disposed between a stationary duct portion262 and the first end 214 of the stationary matrix 210 (e.g., above the stationary matrix 210). Thus, the points of sealing may be: (1) a first rotational joint 263 between the stationary duct portion 262 and the duct portions 252, 256; and (2) gaps between outer edges of duct portions 252, 256 and the stationary matrix 210. Meanwhile, the second duct portion 254 and the fourth duct portion 258 (e.g., outlet duct portions) are disposed between a stationary duct portion 260 and the second end 216 of the stationary matrix 210 (e.g., below the stationary matrix 210). As such, the points of sealing may be: (1) a second rotational joint 261 between the stationary duct portion 260 and duct portions 254, 258; and (2) gaps between outer edges of duct portions 254, 258 and the stationary matrix 210.

[0037] To be clear, the first duct portion 252 and the third duct portion 256 do not necessarily need to be formed together or otherwise tied together. Instead, ducts of the movable duct system 250 may be generally tied to corresponding ducts disposed on an opposite end of the stationary matrix 210. More specifically, in the depicted embodiment, the first duct portion 252 and the second duct portion 254 are aligned with one another along the axis 218 and are configured to travel in synchronization with one another. Meanwhile, the third duct portion 256 and the fourth duct portion 258 are aligned with one another along the axis 218 and are configured to travel in synchronization with one another. Thus, when the movable duct system 250 directs the second fluid flow F2 to the stationary matrix 210, pairs of ducts can guide the second fluid flow F2 into and out of stationary matrix 210. While the depicted embodiment generally depicts the second fluid flow F2 moving upwards (e.g., from the second end 216 to the first end 214 of the stationary matrix 210), the second fluid flow F2 may flow in an opposite direction in other embodiments. Thus, in some instances, the first duct portion 252 and the third duct portion 256 direct the second fluid flow F2 into the stationary matrix 210.

[0038] After the second fluid flow F2 causes the adsorbent elements 212 to desorb a target substance, the second duct portion 254 and the fourth duct portion 258 may direct the resultingdischarge fluid flow F2’, which includes at least a portion of the second fluid flow F2 and any substances (e.g., carbon dioxide) desorbed from the adsorbent elements 212, out of the stationary matrix 210. However, in other instances, the opposite may be true (i.e., the ducts may perform opposite roles). In any case, the discharge fluid flow F2’ exiting adsorption machine 200 may carry the target substance and may be directed to a storage tank, condenser, and / or stripper, e.g., to prevent or at least discourage the target substance (e.g., carbon dioxide) from entering or re-entering the atmosphere.

[0039] Moreover, in some embodiments, the movable duct system 250 may also direct a third fluid flow F3 (not shown) into and out of the stationary matrix 210. The third flow F3 may be a regenerative flow that prepares adsorbent elements 212 that recently desorbed a substance via the second fluid flow F2 to adsorb additional target substance via the first fluid flow Fl.

[0040] Regardless of the flows guided by the movable duct system 250 and / or the direction in which such flows are guided, the movable duct system 250 is generally rotatable with respect to the stationary duct system 280 (in addition to the stationary matrix 210). In the depicted embodiment, the stationary duct system 280 covers the entire stationary matrix 210 - that is the stationary duct system 280 is aligned with an outer shell 220 of stationary matrix 210 - and the movable duct system 250 is disposed within the stationary duct system 280 to selectively block the stationary duct system 280 from guiding the first fluid flow Fl to certain portions of the stationary matrix 210. In additional or alternative embodiments, the stationary duct system 280 may be configured to cover portions of the stationary matrix 210 not aligned with the movable duct system 250.

[0041] The stationary duct system 280 includes a first duct portion 281 that is fluidly coupled to a first hood 282 and a second duct portion 284 that is fluidly coupled to a second hood 286. The first hood 282 covers the first end 214 of the stationary matrix 210, and thesecond hood 286 covers the second end 216 of the stationary matrix 210. Thus, the first hood 282 will guide the first fluid flow Fl into the stationary duct system 280 at any location of the stationary matrix 210 not covered by the movable duct system 250, and the second hood 286 will guide a portion of the first fluid flow F 1 that is not captured by the adsorbent elements 212 to exit the adsorption machine 200 as the filtered fluid flow Fl’. In other words, the first hood 282 of the stationary duct system 280 directs the first fluid flow Fl toward an entirety of the stationary matrix 210, whereas the first duct portion 252 and the third duct portion 256 of the movable duct system 250 block flow of the first fluid flow Fl to a portion of the stationary matrix 210 and, instead, direct the second fluid flow F2 to the portion of the stationary matrix 210. As such, the movable duct system 250 moves to transition between a position within the flow path of the first fluid flow Fl and a position outside of the flow path of the first fluid flow Fl. In the former position (within the flow path of first fluid flow F 1), the movable duct system 250 blocks the first fluid flow Fl to prevent, or at least discourage, the first fluid flow Fl from flowing to a portion of the stationary matrix 210. Instead, the portion of the stationary matrix 210 is positioned in the flow path of the second fluid flow F2 and out of the flow path of the first fluid flow Fl. Meanwhile, in the latter position (the position outside of the flow path of the first fluid flow F 1), the duct system 250 exposes flow of the first fluid flow F 1 to the portion of the stationary matrix 210, thereby positioning the portion of the stationary matrix 210 in the flow path of the first fluid flow Fl and out of the flow path of the second fluid flow F2.

[0042] The first fluid flow F 1 exits the stationary matrix 210 as the filtered fluid flow F 1 ’ , and the second hood 286 may direct the filtered fluid flow Fl’ to another part of the mine 50 and / or to the surface atmosphere. In the depicted embodiment, the first fluid flow Fl moves generally downwards (e.g., from the first end 214 to the second end 216 of the stationary matrix 210), but the first fluid flow Fl may flow in an opposite direction in other embodiments.

[0043] In the depicted embodiment, each of the duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 is generally sector-shaped such that the duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 can extend from the axis 218 of the stationary matrix 210 to the outer shell 220 of the stationary matrix 210. For example, a first or inner end each of the duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 may be coupled to a drive shaft that is coaxial with the axis 218, and a second or outer end of each of the duct portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 may sit atop a surface 222 of the outer shell 220 of the stationary matrix 210.

[0044] Notably, the surface 222 shown in FIG. 4 is representative of top and bottom surfaces with which the duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 may respectively engage, whether disposed atop or below the stationary matrix 210. The duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 may each engage this surface 222 in any desirable manner (e.g., any manner of movable engagement now known or developed hereafter) that allows sliding, rolling, moving, etc. of the duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 with respect to the stationary matrix 210. Moreover, ducts on a bottom side (e.g., the second end 216) of the stationary matrix 210 may include engagement mechanisms to ensure that such ducts remain coupled to the stationary matrix 210 during movement of such ducts around the stationary matrix 210.

[0045] That all said, in other embodiments, the stationary matrix 210 and / or the duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 may have any shape and / or configuration. For example, the stationary matrix 210 may be ovular, stadium-shaped, square, rectangular, etc., and the duct portions 252, 254, 256, 258 may traverse portions of the stationary matrix 210 in any desirable manner. Additionally or alternatively, the adsorption machine 200 can include any suitable quantity of movable duct portions, such as one pair of movable duct portions or three or more pairs of movable duct portions. In further embodiments, the adsorption machine 200 might not include pairs of duct portions and, for example, might include two inlet duct portions and one outlet duct portion.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method 500 for operating an adsorption machine, such as any of the adsorption machines 52, 54, 56, the RAM 90 and / or the adsorption machine 200, implemented in a mine (e.g., the mine 50). It should be noted that the method may be performed differently than depicted. For example, an additional operation may be performed, and / or any of the operations may be performed differently, not performed, and / or performed in a different order.

[0047] At block 502, a fan is operated to direct a fluid flow through a mine to ventilate the mine. In some embodiments, the fan may direct the fluid flow from a surface atmosphere into the mine. In additional or alternative embodiments, the fan may direct the fluid flow from the mine into the surface atmosphere. In further embodiments, the fan may direct fluid flow within the mine, such as through different zones of the mine.

[0048] At block 504, an adsorption machine is operated to adsorb particles from the fluid flow directed by the fan. For example, adsorbent elements of the adsorption machine receive the fluid flow and adsorb the particles (e.g., CO2) from the fluid flow. The adsorbent elements retain the adsorbed particles, while a remainder of the fluid flow is discharged from the adsorption machine, such as toward another part of the mine and / or to the surface atmosphere. Thus, the adsorption machine will not disrupt the ventilation process in which the fan is participating. In fact, in some instances, the adsorption machine will merely slightly lower the flow rate of the ventilation, and the fan will continue to discharge a sufficient flow rate of fluid flow to operate as desired. Moreover, because many mine fans operate at levels well below their capacity, the fan can be operated at higher power levels to compensate for any potential ventilation reduction caused by the adsorption machine, e.g., without requiring additional mine infrastructure. That is, the operational power of the fan may merely slightly increase while providing an adsorbing fluid flow (e.g., the first fluid flow F 1) to an adsorption machine. Thus,there is no need to manufacture or install new fans and to dedicate operational resources (e.g., energy) to an entirely new fan to ventilate the mine.

[0049] At block 506, further operation of the adsorption machine eventually causes the particles to be released from the adsorption machine. By way of example, another fluid flow may be directed through the adsorption machine, a temperature of the adsorption machine may be changed, and / or a pressure at the adsorption machine may be changed to cause the particles to be released. The particles may then be directed for storage and / or further processing. Then, the adsorption machine can continue to cycle the adsorbent elements through adsorbing and desorbing cycles (potentially with a regenerative stage after a desorbing stage and before an adsorbing stage).

[0050] In some embodiments, the adsorption machine includes a RAM in which a rotor of the RAM rotates to move the adsorbent elements of the rotor relative to the fluid flow directed by the fan. In additional or alternative embodiments, the adsorption machine includes a duct that moves to adjust the fluid flow directed by the fan. In either case, relative positioning between the fluid flow and the adsorbent elements is adjusted to cause the adsorbent elements to transition between adsorbing particles from the fluid flow and releasing the adsorbed particles (e.g., into a separate fluid flow directed through the adsorption machine).

[0051] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be apparent that various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the embodiments and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.

[0052] It is also to be understood that the process heating system described herein, or portions thereof may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, supple natural or synthetic materials, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. .

[0053] Finally, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present disclosure to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the disclosure.

[0054] Similarly, when used herein, the term “comprises” and its derivations (such as “comprising”, etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc. Meanwhile, when used herein, the term “approximately” and terms of its family (such as “approximate”, etc.) should be understood as indicating values very near to those which accompany the aforementioned term. That is to say, a deviation within reasonable limits from an exact value should be accepted, because a skilled person in the art will understand that such a deviation from the values indicated is inevitable due to measurement inaccuracies, etc. The same applies to the terms “about” and “around” and “substantially”.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mine ventilation system, comprising: a fan configured to circulate air through a mine; and an adsorption machine comprising adsorbent elements configured to receive an airflow directed by the fan and capture particles from the airflow.

2. The mine ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the adsorption machine comprises a rotor comprising the adsorbent elements, and the rotor is configured to rotate to move a portion of the rotor into and out of a flow path of the airflow directed by the fan.

3. The mine ventilation system of claim 1 or 2, comprising ductwork configured to receive the airflow directed by the fan and direct the airflow through the adsorbent elements, wherein the ductwork is configured to move to adjust a flow path of the airflow relative to a portion of the adsorbent elements.

4. The mine ventilation system of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the adsorbent elements are configured to receive an additional fluid flow to cause the adsorbent elements to release the particles captured from the airflow directed by the fan into the additional fluid flow.

5. The mine ventilation system of claim 4, wherein the adsorbent elements are configured to receive a supplemental fluid flow to prepare the adsorbent elements to capture additional particles from air circulated by the fan after the adsorbent elements release the particles captured from the airflow directed by the fan.

6. The mine ventilation system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the fan comprises an intake fan configured to direct air from a surface atmosphere into the mine, an exhaust fan configured to direct air from within the mine to the surface atmosphere, an auxiliary fan configured to direct air between different zones of the mine, or any combination thereof.

7. The mine ventilation system of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the adsorbent elements of the adsorption machine are configured to capture carbon dioxide from the airflow directed by the fan.

8. An adsorption machine for a mine, the adsorption machine comprising: ductwork configured to receive an airflow from a fan ventilating the mine; and adsorbent elements configured to receive the airflow from the ductwork, adsorb particles from the airflow, and release the particles adsorbed from the airflow.

9. The adsorption machine of claim 8, wherein the ductwork is configured to direct an additional airflow to the adsorbent elements, and the adsorbent elements are configured to release the particles adsorbed from the airflow into the additional airflow.

10. The adsorption machine of claim 8 or 9, wherein the ductwork is configured to direct a supplemental airflow to the adsorbent elements to prepare the adsorbent elements to adsorb additional particles from another airflow received from the fan after the adsorbent elements release the particles adsorbed from the airflow.

11. The adsorption machine of any one of claims 8-10, comprising a rotor comprising the adsorbent elements, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate to move a portion of the adsorbent elements into and out of a flow path of the airflow.

12. The adsorption machine of any one of claims 8-11, wherein the ductwork comprises a movable duct portion, and the movable duct portion is configured to move to adjust a flow path of the airflow relative to a portion of the adsorbent elements to transition the portion of the adsorbent elements into and out of the flow path of the airflow.

13. The adsorption machine of claim 12, wherein the ductwork comprises a stationary duct portion configured to direct the airflow toward the adsorbent elements, the movable duct portion is configured to move relative to the stationary duct portion, and movement of the movable duct portion alternates between blocking and exposing the portion of the adsorbent elements to the airflow directed by the stationary duct portion to adjust the flow path of the airflow relative to the portion of the adsorbent elements to transition the portion of the adsorbent elements into and out of the flow path of the airflow.

14. The adsorption machine of any one of claims 8-13, wherein the ductwork is configured to receive the airflow as air directed from a surface atmosphere into the mine, air directed from the mine toward the surface atmosphere, air directed between different zones of the mine, or any combination thereof.

15. A method, comprising: directing an airflow through a mine; adsorbing particles from the airflow via an adsorption machine; andreleasing the particles from the adsorption machine.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising directing an additional airflow through the adsorption machine, changing a temperature of the adsorption machine, changing a pressure at the adsorption machine, or any combination thereof to release the particles from the adsorption machine.

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, comprising: transitioning adsorbent elements of the adsorption machine into a flow path of the airflow to adsorb particles from the airflow via the adsorbent elements; and transitioning the adsorbent elements out of the flow path of the airflow to release the particles from the adsorbent elements.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transitioning the adsorbent elements of the adsorption machine into and out of the flow path of the airflow comprises moving a rotor of the adsorption machine comprising the adsorbent elements relative to the flow path of the airflow.

19. The method of any one of claims 17 or 18, wherein transitioning the adsorbent elements of the adsorption machine into and out of the flow path of the airflow comprises moving, relative to the adsorbent elements, ductwork configured to direct the airflow to the adsorption machine.

20. The method of any one of claims 15-19, wherein directing the airflow through the mine comprises directing the airflow from a surface atmosphere into the mine, directing the airflowfrom the mine toward the surface atmosphere, directing the airflow between different zones of the mine, or any combination thereof.

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