Adsorption machine for mine environments

Abstract

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

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority and benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 555,727, filed February 20, 2024, entitled “Adsorption Machine for Mine Environments,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of adsorption machines, and more particularly to an adsorption machine incorporated in a mine. Background Technology

[0003] In a mining environment, one or more fans are used to circulate air through the mine to ventilate different parts of the mine. For example, if the mine is located underground, one or more intake fans can supply air from the surface atmosphere to the underground infrastructure. Additionally or alternatively, one or more exhaust fans can exhaust air from the mine back to the surface atmosphere. Thus, fans remove and replenish air within the mine. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure relates to a rotary adsorption machine incorporated into a mine ventilation system. The mine ventilation system includes a fan configured to circulate air through the mine and an adsorption machine having an adsorption element configured to receive and capture one or more target substances from the fan-guided air without adversely affecting the 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 the mine and an adsorption machine including an adsorption element configured to receive the airflow guided by the fan and capture particles from the airflow.

[0006] In another embodiment, an adsorption machine for mines is proposed. The adsorption machine includes a piping system and an adsorption element. The piping system is configured to receive airflow from a fan used for mine ventilation, and the adsorption element is configured to receive the airflow from the piping system, 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: guiding an airflow through a mine; adsorbing particles from the airflow via an adsorption machine; and releasing the particles from the adsorption machine. Attached Figure Description

[0008] To complete the description and to provide a better understanding of this disclosure, a set of accompanying drawings is provided. These drawings form an integral part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, which should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure, but are merely examples of how the disclosure may be performed. The drawings include the following figures:

[0009] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram depicting the overall layout of the mine according to an embodiment.

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

[0011] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an adsorption machine configured to be incorporated into a mine according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A partial cross-sectional view of the adsorption machine.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of a method for operating an adsorption machine according to an embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The following description should not be construed in a limiting sense, but is given only for the purpose of describing the broad principles of this disclosure. Embodiments of this disclosure will be described by way of example with reference to the foregoing drawings, which illustrate elements and results according to this disclosure.

[0015] A mine includes the infrastructure and equipment used to extract resources (such as minerals) from the earth. In some implementations, parts of the mine may not be easily accessible. For example, a mine may be formed underground and comprise different areas located far from the surface atmosphere. For this reason, fans are used to ventilate the mine by guiding air into and out of the mine (e.g., through each area). To do this, the fans operate at a certain speed to guide air through the mine at a sufficient flow rate.

[0016] One or more adsorption machines can be used to receive a fan-guided fluid flow. Adsorption machines are deployed to recover specific gases, elements, and / or particulates, such as those used for point source carbon capture and / or direct air carbon capture. Adsorption machines include adsorbent materials such as activated carbon, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), or zeolites (e.g., hydrated aluminosilicates of alkali and alkaline earth metals). When a process gas (such as a gas loaded with carbon dioxide (CO2)) enters the adsorption machine, the target gas, element, and / or particulates (e.g., CO2) are adsorbed onto the adsorbent material. The target substance is then released from the adsorbent material via a desorption process, allowing the target substance to be captured, processed, or used. The desorption process is caused by changes in pressure and / or temperature (e.g., by passing vapor through the adsorbent material and / or by heating the adsorbent material via an electric heating element).

[0017] In general, adsorption machines are configured to extract particles from fluid flows provided by existing equipment in mines in order to improve the environmental health of the surface atmosphere. However, operating adsorption machines can often be resource-intensive, which can be exacerbated relative to the environmental gains provided by the machines. Therefore, it is important to achieve specific efficiencies in adsorption machine operation to achieve a significant impact on environmental health. Integrating adsorption machines into mines can leverage mine infrastructure to enhance the efficiency of the machines and, consequently, increase the environmental gains provided by them.

[0018] Figure 1 This describes a typical mine ventilation layout equipped with fluid flow control equipment. For example... Figure 1 As shown, mine 50 typically includes the following elements: one or more exhaust fans 1; one or more intake fans 2 (e.g., surface fans); one or more intake shafts 3; one or more exhaust shafts 4; mine levels 5, 6, and 7 having one or more mining zones 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 (e.g., ore mining zones); one or more auxiliary fans 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19; and piping. Mine 50 may also include one or more service areas 29 with associated auxiliary fans 30. Figure 1 The mine layouts provided herein are for illustrative purposes only, and the embodiments are not limited thereto. In fact, it should be noted that the techniques discussed herein can be employed in any other suitable context, such as different types of mine layouts and / or any other environment with fans, including fans that provide sufficiently large airflow and / or have backup capacity to increase the airflow provided.

[0019] Generally, one or more intake fans 2 supply air from the surface atmosphere to the underground infrastructure via one or more intake shafts 3. The intake shafts 3 provide fresh air and allow hoses to supply fluid to the working level, where mining takes place in one or more mining zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 outside each level 5, 6, 7. Ramps 8, 9 can transfer some air between each level 5, 6, 7. Ramps 8, 9 also provide pathways for equipment to move from one level to another. Ore and waste can be mechanically extracted from extraction zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and can fall into or be transferred to lower levels for crushing and brought back to the surface via conveyors in well elements 26, 27. In some embodiments, the machinery can be fueled by diesel fuel, natural gas, or other fuels.

[0020] Air can be forced from each level to extraction or service areas 10, 11, 29, 12, 13, 14 via auxiliary fans 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19 and ducts connected to them. Diesel particulate exhaust contaminated air from extraction areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 is directed along each level 5, 6, 7 via ore extraction, and this contaminated air can flow through baffles to one or more outlet shafts 4 via variable flow regulators 23, 24, 25. Operation of one or more intake fans 2 can help direct the contaminated air along levels 5, 6, 7 toward one or more outlet shafts 4. However, in some embodiments, any of levels 5, 6, 7 (such as lower levels located away from one or more intake fans 2) may include an additional booster fan 28 to help direct the contaminated air through. In some modern implementations, flow measurement stations 20, 21, and 22 may be installed at the partitions to determine whether sufficient fluid flow (e.g., airflow) is directed through each level 5, 6, and 7 for ventilation of the mine 50. One or more exhaust fans 1 draw air from one or more exhaust shafts 4 into 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 can be manually and / or automatically controlled by a local controller and / or by a basic control system with a surface HMI (human-machine interface). The control system may also include start-up and shutdown sequences and protective interlocks. In some embodiments, the speed of the fans 1, 2, 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19 can be adjusted based on data received from flow measurement stations 20, 21, 22 (e.g., the speed can be increased based on flow measurement values ​​below a threshold amount) to provide adequate ventilation for the mine 50.

[0022] One or more adsorption machines may be incorporated in the mine 50 to capture and extract particles from a fluid flow guided through the mine 50. For example, a first adsorption machine 52 may be located in or adjacent to one of the intake shafts 3 to receive a fluid flow (e.g., ambient air) guided by the intake fan 2. Thus, the first adsorption machine 52 captures particles from the air guided from the ground atmosphere into the mine 50, removing some particles before the air circulates through the remainder of the mine 50. Additionally or alternatively, a second adsorption machine 54 may be located in or adjacent to one of the exhaust shafts 4 to receive a fluid flow (e.g., contaminated air, gas) guided by the exhaust fan 1. In this way, the second adsorption machine 54 captures particles from the air guided from the mine 50 into the ground atmosphere, thereby preventing the release of such particles into the ground atmosphere. In another embodiment, a third adsorption machine 56 may be located away from the ground atmosphere in the mine 50 to capture particles from the air guided between the intake shafts 3 and the exhaust shafts 4. For example, the third adsorption machine 56 can be positioned in any of or in between levels 5, 6, 7, ramps 8, 9, extraction zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and service zone 29 to capture particles from air directed within mine 50 (e.g., air directed by any of auxiliary fans 15, 16, 30, 17, 18, 19, or booster fan 28).

[0023] In any case, adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 can be readily implemented in mine 50 to capture particles from a fluid flow provided by existing equipment used to operate mine 50. For example, the benefits provided by adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 can be realized without further modification to other aspects of mine 50, such as including certain additional components (e.g., dedicated fans that direct air through adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 without ventilating mine 50) and / or adjusting other operations of mine 50. In fact, existing mines 50 can be easily refurbished with any adsorption machine 52, 54, and 56. Similarly, the benefits provided by adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 can be realized without altering aspects of adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56. Indeed, adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 can utilize existing mine infrastructure such as intake fan 2 and exhaust fan 1 to generate a fluid flow through the adsorption machines sufficient to facilitate adsorption, and therefore do not require the inclusion or installation of dedicated fans to drive the adsorption fluid flow. However, it is important that while the adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 can utilize the mine infrastructure, they do not alter the fluid flow characteristics to make the mine infrastructure unsuitable for ventilating the mine 50. In other words, the adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 provide environmental benefits without adversely affecting the operation of the mine infrastructure (e.g., intake fan 2, exhaust fan 1).

[0024] Figure 2 The illustration shows a top perspective view of a rotary adsorption machine (RAM) 90, which can be used as any one of adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 in a mine 50. The RAM 90 includes a rotor 92 rotatable within a housing 100. Therefore, the housing 100 can be specifically designed to enclose and seal portions of the rotor 92 to help indicate how and from where air will enter, exit, or move with the rotor 92.

[0025] Rotor 92 is configured to rotate continuously about central hub 98 to move radially aligned adsorption elements through zones (e.g., through zones Z1, Z2, Z3) in a circulation. During rotation of rotor 92, housing 100 circumferentially retains gas within rotor 92 to create a path along which fluid can axially enter or exit rotor 92. Circumferential retention is achieved by abutting against the housing of rotor 92 and / or by positioning the cylindrical portion 108 of housing 100 via sector plate assemblies 94, 96. Furthermore, axial sealing plates, axial seals, and / or circumferential seals (e.g., blade seals, contact seals, etc.) may be positioned between rotor 92 and housing of rotor 92 to prevent or at least impede leakage between rotor 92 and housing of rotor 92.

[0026] In the depicted embodiment, RAM90 includes three fixed conduits generally aligned with regions Z1, Z2, and Z3: (1) a first fixed conduit 110 generally aligned with adsorption region Z1; (2) a second fixed conduit 130 generally aligned with desorption region Z2; and (3) a third fixed conduit 150 generally aligned with regeneration region Z3. A first fluid flow F1 (e.g., ambient air, exhaust air) entering the first fixed conduit 110 as an adsorption flow generally flows in a first longitudinal direction (e.g., downward), while the second fluid flow F2 and the third fluid flow F3 (desorption flow and regeneration flow, respectively) entering the fixed conduits 130 and 150 generally flow in opposite longitudinal directions (e.g., upward).

[0027] As can be seen, the first sector assembly 94 separates the adsorption zone Z1 (typically aligned with the first fixed conduit 110) from the desorption zone Z2 (typically aligned with the second fixed conduit 130) and the regeneration zone Z3 (typically aligned with the third fixed conduit 150). Furthermore, the second sector assembly 96 separates the desorption zone Z2 and the regeneration zone Z3. Therefore, during rotation, the adsorption element in the rotor 92 moves into or out of the adsorption zone Z1 (e.g., from the regeneration zone Z3 or to the desorption zone Z2) via the first sector assembly 94. Simultaneously, the adsorption element in the rotor 92 moves from the desorption zone Z2 to the regeneration zone Z3 via the second sector assembly 96. Although the illustrated RAM 90 includes three zones Z1, Z2, and Z3, in other examples, one or more sector assemblies may define any other suitable number of zones in the annular space between the central hub 98 of the rotor 92 and the cylindrical segment 108 of the housing 100 (e.g., for three-sector, four-sector, etc. RAMs).

[0028] The rotation of rotor 92 about central hub 98 adjusts the exposure of rotor 92 to different fluid flows F1, F2 by changing the positioning of the adsorption element relative to the flow path of fluid flows F1, F2. For example, a portion of rotor 92 may be initially positioned within the first fixed conduit 110 and thus within the flow path of the first fluid flow F1 to receive the first fluid flow F1. The adsorption element of this portion of rotor 92 encounters the first fluid flow F1 to adsorb a specific portion of the first fluid flow F1 containing the target substance (e.g., carbon dioxide). The adsorption element may hold the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow F1 while rotor 92 rotates to move this portion of rotor 92 toward the second fixed conduit 130. Meanwhile, the portion of the first fluid flow F1 not captured by the adsorption element (e.g., and not containing a large amount of the target substance) may exit rotor 92 as filtered fluid flow F1', such as to another part of mine 50 and / or to the surface atmosphere. In fact, although a portion of the first fluid flow F1 is captured by the adsorption element, the first fluid flow F1 can be guided at a sufficient flow rate so that a sufficient amount of filtered fluid flow F1' is discharged from RAM90, such as for ventilating the mine 50.

[0029] When positioned in the second fixed conduit 130, the adsorption element of this portion of the rotor 92 is positioned in the flow path of the second fluid flow F2 to encounter the second fluid flow F2 being guided through the second fixed conduit 130. Therefore, the second fluid flow F2 causes the adsorption element carrying the adsorption portion of the first fluid flow F1 to desorb the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow F1. For example, steam can be guided through the rotor 92 as the second fluid flow F2 to generate a temperature change that releases carbon dioxide from the adsorption element for carbon capture. Thus, the processed fluid flow F2' carries the adsorption portion of the first fluid flow F1 and therefore the target substance, and exits the rotor 92. For example, the processed fluid flow F2' containing carbon dioxide can be directed to a storage tank, condenser, and / or stripping tower, for example, to prevent carbon dioxide from entering or re-entering the ground atmosphere (e.g., to remove carbon dioxide from the ground atmosphere).

[0030] After the adsorption element of this portion of rotor 92 desorbs a portion of the first fluid flow F1, rotor 92 rotates to move this portion of rotor 92 toward the third fixed conduit 150. When positioned in the third fixed conduit 150, the adsorption element of this portion of rotor 92 is positioned in the third flow path of the third fluid flow F3 (e.g., regulating air) and encounters the third fluid flow F3 being guided through the third fixed conduit 150. The third fluid flow F3 enters this portion of rotor 92 to prepare the adsorption element of this portion of rotor 92 (e.g., by cooling the adsorption element) to better adsorb the target substance from the first fluid flow F1, and the third fluid flow F3 exits as an outlet flow F3'. In some embodiments, the third fluid flow F3 may not be utilized; instead, the rotation of rotor 92 may alternately move this portion of rotor 92 between the first fixed conduit 110 and the second fixed conduit 130 to adsorb and desorb a portion of the first fluid flow F1 via the adsorption element of rotor 92.

[0031] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The illustration shows another example of an adsorption machine 200 that can be used as any one of the adsorption machines 52, 54, and 56 in the mine 50, and will be described together for ease of discussion. Figure 3 and Figure 4The adsorption machine 200 includes components of an adsorption machine 200. The adsorption machine 200 includes a stationary substrate 210, which may be a stator instead of a rotor (e.g., instead of rotor 34). To move adsorption elements 212 (e.g., structures comprising adsorbent material) within the stationary substrate 210 through an adsorption cycle (e.g., repeated adsorption and desorption), the adsorption machine 200 includes a movable ductwork system 250 (e.g., a ductwork system) movable relative to the stationary substrate 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the movable ductwork system 250 includes movable duct portions disposed within a stationary ductwork system 280 (e.g., a stationary ductwork system).

[0032] The fixed conduit system 280 generally guides a first fluid flow F1 (e.g., an adsorption flow) to an adsorption element 212, such that the adsorption element 212 can adsorb a specific portion of the first fluid flow F1 containing the target substance. The adsorption element 212 can retain the adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow F1 until it is exposed to a second fluid flow F2 (e.g., a desorption flow). For example, the fixed conduit system 280 guides the first fluid flow F1 to a portion of the fixed substrate 210 so that the adsorption element 212 adsorbs a corresponding portion of the first fluid flow F1. The movable conduit system 250 then moves to align with a portion of the fixed substrate 210 to block the flow of the first fluid flow F1 to that portion of the fixed substrate 210, preventing or at least hindering the adsorption element from adsorbing another portion of the first fluid flow F1, and guiding the second fluid flow F2 to that portion of the fixed substrate 210, thereby causing the adsorption element 212 at that portion of the fixed substrate 210 to desorb the corresponding adsorbed portion of the first fluid flow F1. Therefore, the movement of the movable pipeline system 250 causes the fixed base 210 to sequentially and repeatedly capture the target substance via the first fluid flow F1 and release the target substance via the second fluid flow F2.

[0033] In the depicted embodiment, the fixing base 210 is a cylindrical structure centered about axis 218 and defined by the housing 220. The fixing base 210 extends along axis 218 from a first end 214 to a second end 216. In the depicted embodiment, the fixing base 210 is horizontally oriented such that the first end 214 is the top surface of the cylinder and the second end 216 is the bottom surface of the cylinder. However, in other embodiments, the fixing base 210 may be shaped or oriented differently. For example, the fixing base 210 may be a cylindrical but vertically oriented structure, with the first end 214 and the second end 216 defining the left and right sides of the fixing base 210. In any case, the adsorption element 212 generally defines a channel 213 that extends through the fixing base 210 in a direction generally parallel to axis 218. For clarity, "generally parallel" can mean that the general direction of extension of the channel 213 (which may be skewed, irregular, serpentine, twisted, wavy, etc.) is parallel to axis 218.

[0034] The adsorption element 212 is typically organized around axis 218. For example, the adsorption element 212 may be segmented into sector-shaped containers, which are connected together to form a stationary matrix 210 and / or mounted in a chassis of the stationary matrix 210. Additionally or alternatively, the stationary matrix 210 may include circumferential plates to subdivide the containers and / or chassis. In any case, the adsorption element 212 may be stored and / or mounted within the stationary matrix 210. For example, the adsorption element 212 may be “dropped” into the container to fill the stationary matrix 210 with adsorbent material. Regardless of how the stationary matrix 210 is formed or constructed, the adsorption element 212 may be formed from any suitable adsorbent material now known or developed in the future, such as for adsorbing carbon dioxide.

[0035] The stationary substrate 210 does not move during operation of the adsorption machine 200. That is, the stationary substrate 210 does not move or rotate about a central hub arranged coaxial with its axis 218. Therefore, the stationary substrate 210 can be adequately supported without specific structures (such as large, complex bearings) and does not require a circumferential seal against a housing surrounding the stationary substrate 210. Instead, the housing 220 can be the outer boundary of the stationary substrate 210 and can also serve as a flow boundary for flows entering and leaving the stationary substrate 210 (e.g., a first fluid flow F1, a second fluid flow F2).

[0036] The movable piping system 250 rotates relative to the fixed base 210. More specifically, in the described embodiment, the movable piping system 250 includes four movable (e.g., rotatable) pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 that rotate relative to the fixed base 210 and relative to the fixed pipe. The first pipe portion 252 and the third pipe portion 256 (e.g., inlet pipe portion) are disposed between the fixed pipe portion 262 and the first end 214 of the fixed base 210 (e.g., above the fixed base 210). Therefore, the sealing point may be: (1) a first swivel joint 263 between the fixed pipe portion 262 and the pipe portions 252 and 256; and (2) the gap between the outer edges of the pipe portions 252 and 256 and the fixed base 210. Meanwhile, the second pipe portion 254 and the fourth pipe portion 258 (e.g., outlet pipe portion) are disposed between the fixed pipe portion 260 and the second end 216 of the fixed base 210 (e.g., below the fixed base 210). Therefore, the sealing point can be: (1) the second rotary joint 261 between the fixed pipe section 260 and the pipe sections 254, 258; and (2) the gap between the outer edge of the pipe sections 254, 258 and the fixed base 210.

[0037] For clarity, the first conduit portion 252 and the third conduit portion 256 do not necessarily need to be formed together or otherwise bound together. Instead, the conduits of the movable conduit system 250 may be substantially bound to corresponding conduits arranged on opposite ends of the fixed base 210. More specifically, in the described embodiment, the first conduit portion 252 and the second conduit portion 254 are aligned with each other along axis 218 and configured to travel synchronously with each other. Simultaneously, the third conduit portion 256 and the fourth conduit portion 258 are aligned along axis 218 and configured to move synchronously. Thus, when the movable conduit system 250 guides the second fluid flow F2 to the fixed base 210, the conduit pairs are able to guide the second fluid flow F2 in and out of the fixed base 210. While the depicted embodiment generally portrays the second fluid flow F2 moving upward (e.g., from the second end 216 to the first end 214 of the fixed base 210), in other embodiments, the second fluid flow F2 may flow in the opposite direction. Therefore, in some cases, the first conduit portion 252 and the third conduit portion 256 guide the second fluid flow F2 into the fixed base 210.

[0038] After the second fluid flow F2 causes the adsorption element 212 to desorb the target substance, the second conduit section 254 and the fourth conduit section 258 can guide the resulting discharge fluid flow F2' out of the stationary substrate 210. This discharge fluid flow F2' includes at least a portion of the second fluid flow F2 and any substance desorbed from the adsorption element 212 (e.g., carbon dioxide). However, in other cases, the opposite can be true (i.e., the conduits can perform the opposite function). In any case, the discharge fluid flow F2' leaving the adsorption machine 200 can carry the target substance and can be directed to a storage tank, condenser, and / or stripping tower, for example, to prevent or at least stop the target substance (e.g., carbon dioxide) from entering or re-entering the atmosphere.

[0039] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the movable conduit system 250 may also guide a third fluid flow F3 (not shown) into and out of the stationary substrate 210. The third flow F3 may be a regeneration flow for preparing the adsorption element 212, which has recently desorbed material via the second fluid flow F2 to adsorb additional target material via the first fluid flow F1.

[0040] Regardless of the flow guided by the movable piping system 250 and / or the direction in which such flow is guided, the movable piping system 250 is generally rotatable relative to the fixed piping system 280 (except for the fixed base 210). In the depicted embodiment, the fixed piping system 280 covers the entire fixed base 210—that is, the fixed piping system 280 is aligned with the housing 220 of the fixed base 210—and the movable piping system 250 is arranged within the fixed piping system 280 to selectively prevent the fixed piping system 280 from guiding the first fluid flow F1 to certain portions of the fixed base 210. In other or alternative embodiments, the fixed piping system 280 may be configured to cover portions of the fixed base 210 that are not aligned with the movable piping system 250.

[0041] The fixed piping system 280 includes a first piping portion 281 fluidly connected to a first cover 282 and a second piping portion 284 fluidly connected to a second cover 286. The first cover 282 covers a first end 214 of the fixed substrate 210, and the second cover 286 covers a second end 216 of the fixed substrate 210. Therefore, the first cover 282 guides a first fluid flow F1 into the fixed piping system 280 at any point on the fixed substrate 210 not covered by the movable piping system 250, and the second cover 286 guides a portion of the first fluid flow F1 that is not captured by the adsorption element 212 as a filtered fluid flow F1' out of the adsorption machine 200. In other words, the first cover 282 of the fixed piping system 280 directs the first fluid flow F1 to the entire fixed substrate 210, while the first piping portion 252 and the third piping portion 256 of the movable piping system 250 block the first fluid flow F1 from flowing to a portion of the fixed substrate 210 and instead directs a second fluid flow F2 to a portion of the fixed substrate 210. Therefore, the movable piping system 250 moves to transition between a position within the flow path of the first fluid flow F1 and a position outside the flow path of the first fluid flow F1. In the former position (within the flow path of the first fluid flow F1), the movable piping system 250 blocks the first fluid flow F1 to prevent or at least impede the flow of the first fluid flow F1 to a portion of the fixed base 210. Conversely, a portion of the fixed base 210 is positioned within the flow path of the second fluid flow F2 and outside the flow path of the first fluid flow F1. Meanwhile, in the latter position (outside the flow path of the first fluid flow F1), the piping system 250 exposes the flow of the first fluid flow F1 to that portion of the fixed base 210, thereby positioning that portion of the fixed base 210 within the flow path of the first fluid flow F1 and outside the flow path of the second fluid flow F2.

[0042] The first fluid flow F1 exits the stationary base 210 along with the filtered fluid flow F1', and the second shroud 286 can guide the filtered fluid flow F1' to another part of the mine 50 and / or to the surface atmosphere. In the illustrated embodiment, the first fluid flow F1 moves generally downward (e.g., from a first end 214 of the stationary base 210 to a second end 216), but in other embodiments, the first fluid flow F1 may flow in the opposite direction.

[0043] In the depicted embodiment, each of the pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 is generally fan-shaped, such that the pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 can extend from the axis 218 of the base 210 to the housing 220 of the base 210. For example, a first end or inner end of each of the pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 can be coupled to a drive shaft coaxial with the axis 218, and a second end or outer end of each of the pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 can be located on top of the surface 222 of the housing 220 of the base 210.

[0044] It is worth noting that, Figure 4 Surface 222, as shown, represents the top and bottom surfaces to which pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 can engage, whether disposed on top of or below the base 210. The pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 can each engage surface 222 in any desired manner (e.g., any movable engagement method now known or developed later) that allows the pipe portions 252, 254, 256, and 258 to slide, roll, move, etc., relative to the base 210. Furthermore, pipes on the underside of the base 210 (e.g., the second end 216) may include engagement mechanisms to ensure that such pipes remain connected to the base 210 during movement about the base 210.

[0045] In other embodiments, the fixing base 210 and / or the conduit portions 252, 254, 256, 258 can have any shape and / or configuration. For example, the fixing base 210 can be oval, stadium-shaped, square, rectangular, etc., and the conduit portions 252, 254, 256, 258 can traverse portions of the fixing base 210 in any desired manner. Additionally or alternatively, the adsorption machine 200 may include any suitable number of movable conduit portions, such as a pair of movable conduit portions or three or more pairs of movable conduit portions. In other embodiments, the adsorption machine 200 may not include paired conduit portions and may, for example, include two inlet conduit portions and one outlet conduit portion.

[0046] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of a method 500 for operating an adsorption machine (such as any one of adsorption machines 52, 54, 56, RAM 90, and / or adsorption machine 200, etc.) implemented in a mine (e.g., mine 50). It should be noted that the method may be performed differently than depicted. For example, additional operations may be performed and / or any operations may be performed differently, no operations may be performed, and / or any operations may be performed in a different order.

[0047] At box 502, a fan is operated to direct fluid flow through the mine for ventilation. In some embodiments, the fan may direct fluid flow from the surface atmosphere into the mine. In additional or alternative embodiments, the fan may direct fluid flow from the mine into the surface atmosphere. In other embodiments, the fan may direct fluid flow within the mine, such as through different areas of the mine.

[0048] In box 504, an adsorption machine is operated to adsorb particles from a fluid flow guided by a fan. For example, the adsorption element of the adsorption machine receives the fluid flow and adsorbs particles (e.g., CO2) from the fluid flow. The adsorption element retains the adsorbed particles, while the remainder of the fluid flow is discharged from the adsorption machine, for example toward another part of the mine and / or toward the surface atmosphere. Therefore, the adsorption machine will not interfere with the ventilation process in which the fan is involved. In fact, in some cases, the adsorption machine will only slightly reduce the flow rate of the ventilation system, and the fan will continue to discharge a fluid flow at a sufficient rate to operate as needed. Furthermore, because many mine fans operate at levels far below their capacity, the fans can operate at higher power levels to compensate for any potential reduction in ventilation caused by the adsorption machine, for example, without requiring additional mine infrastructure. That is, while the adsorbed fluid flow (e.g., the first fluid flow F1) is supplied to the adsorption machine, the operating power of the fan may only increase slightly. Therefore, it is not necessary to manufacture or install new fans and dedicate operating resources (e.g., energy) to brand-new fans for mine ventilation.

[0049] In box 506, further operations of the adsorption machine ultimately release the particles from the adsorption machine. For example, another fluid flow may be directed through the adsorption machine, the temperature of the adsorption machine may be changed, and / or the pressure at the adsorption machine may be changed to release the particles. The particles may then be directed for storage and / or further processing. The adsorption machine can then continue to circulate the adsorption elements through adsorption and desorption cycles (potentially utilizing a regeneration phase after the desorption phase and before the adsorption phase).

[0050] In some embodiments, the adsorption machine includes a RAM whose rotor rotates within the RAM to move the adsorption element of the rotor relative to a fan-guided fluid flow. In another or alternative embodiment, the adsorption machine includes a conduit that moves to regulate the fan-guided fluid flow. In either case, the relative positioning between the fluid flow and the adsorption element is regulated to cause the adsorption element to switch between adsorbed particles from the fluid flow and released adsorbed particles (e.g., into a separate fluid flow guided through the adsorption machine).

[0051] While this disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, as it will be apparent that various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of these embodiments and within the scope and equivalents of the claims. Furthermore, different features from one embodiment may be combined in another. Therefore, it is appropriate that the appended claims be interpreted broadly and in accordance with the scope of this disclosure set forth in the following claims.

[0052] It should also be understood that the process heating system or part thereof described herein can be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastics, foamed plastics, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metals, soft natural or synthetic materials, their derivatives and combinations thereof.

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

[0054] Similarly, when used herein, the term "comprises" and its derivatives (such as "comprising") should not be construed as excluding; that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that the described and defined things may include other elements, steps, etc. At the same time, when used herein, the term "approximately" and its family of terms (such as "approximate") should be understood as indicating a value very close to the value accompanying the aforementioned term. That is, deviations from the exact value within reasonable limits should be accepted, as those skilled in the art will understand that such deviations from the indicated value are unavoidable due to measurement inaccuracies, etc. The same applies to the terms "about," "approximately," and "roughly."

Claims

1. A mine ventilation system, comprising: A fan configured to circulate air through the mine shaft; as well as An adsorption machine, comprising an adsorption element configured to receive an airflow guided by the fan and capture particles from the airflow.

2. The mine ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein, The adsorption machine includes a rotor that includes the adsorption element, and the rotor is configured to rotate to move a portion of the rotor into and out of the flow path of the airflow guided by the fan.

3. The mine ventilation system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a duct system configured to receive the airflow guided by the fan and guide the airflow through the adsorption element, wherein, The piping system is configured to move to adjust the flow path of the airflow relative to a portion of the adsorption element.

4. The mine ventilation system according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The adsorption element is configured to receive an additional fluid flow such that the adsorption element releases the particles captured by the airflow guided by the fan into the additional fluid flow.

5. The mine ventilation system according to claim 4, wherein, The adsorption element is configured to receive a supplemental fluid flow to prepare it to capture additional particles from the air circulated by the fan after the adsorption element has released particles captured from the airflow guided by the fan.

6. The mine ventilation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The fan includes an intake fan, an exhaust fan, an auxiliary fan, or any combination of the intake fan, the exhaust fan, and the auxiliary fan. The intake fan is configured to guide air from the surface atmosphere to the mine shaft, the exhaust fan is configured to guide air from inside the mine shaft to the surface atmosphere, and the auxiliary fan is configured to guide air between different areas of the mine shaft.

7. The mine ventilation system according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The adsorption element of the adsorption machine is configured to capture carbon dioxide from the airflow guided by the fan.

8. An adsorption machine for use in mines, the adsorption machine comprising: A piping system configured to receive airflow from fans that ventilate the mine; as well as An adsorption element configured to receive an airflow from the duct system, adsorb particles from the airflow, and release particles adsorbed from the airflow.

9. The adsorption machine according to claim 8, wherein, The piping system is configured to direct additional airflow to the adsorption element, and the adsorption element is configured to release the particles adsorbed from the airflow into the additional airflow.

10. The adsorption machine according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, The duct system is configured to direct supplemental airflow to the adsorption element, thereby preparing the adsorption element to adsorb additional particles from another airflow received by the fan after the adsorption element has released the particles adsorbed from the airflow.

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

12. The adsorption machine according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein, The piping system includes a movable pipe portion, and the movable pipe portion is configured to move to adjust the flow path of the airflow relative to a portion of the adsorption element, such that the portion of the adsorption element transitions into and out of the flow path of the airflow.

13. The adsorption machine according to claim 12, wherein, The piping system includes a fixed piping portion configured to guide the airflow toward the adsorption element, a movable piping portion configured to move relative to the fixed piping portion, and the movement of the movable piping portion alternating between blocking the portion of the adsorption element and exposing the portion of the adsorption element to the airflow guided by the fixed piping portion, thereby regulating the flow path of the airflow relative to the portion of the adsorption element, thereby transitioning the portion of the adsorption element into and out of the flow path of the airflow.

14. The adsorption machine according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein, The piping system is configured to receive airflows as directed from the surface atmosphere into the mine, from the mine toward the surface atmosphere, between different areas of the mine, or any combination thereof.

15. A method comprising: Guide the airflow through the mine; Particles are adsorbed from the airflow using an adsorption machine; as well as The particles are released from the adsorption machine.

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

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, comprising: The adsorption element of the adsorption machine is transitioned into the flow path of the airflow to adsorb particles from the airflow via the adsorption element; as well as The adsorption element is transitioned out of the flow path of the airflow to release the particles from the adsorption element.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, Transitioning the adsorption element of the adsorption machine into and out of the flow path of the airflow includes moving the rotor of the adsorption machine, which includes the adsorption element, relative to the flow path of the airflow.

19. The method according to any one of claims 17 or 18, wherein, Transitioning the adsorption element of the adsorption machine into or out of the flow path of the airflow includes moving relative to the adsorption element through a piping system configured to guide the airflow to the adsorption machine.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein, Guiding the airflow through the mine includes guiding the airflow from the surface atmosphere into the mine, guiding the airflow from the mine into the surface atmosphere, guiding the airflow between different areas of the mine, or any combination thereof.

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