Underground Mine Cooling System Using Vapor Compression Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mine cooling and dehumidification systems suffer from high energy loss, low refrigeration efficiency, and high costs due to the need for long-distance pipe transportation of cool water.
Innovation Solution
A mine cooling and dehumidifying system utilizing a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle, with a compressor, gas-liquid separator, evaporator, condenser, and expansion valve, where the evaporator is placed in the air supply well and the condenser in the return air well, eliminating the need for long-distance pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cool water is transported through long-distance pipes to the underground, then cooling effect is achieved, but energy loss increases and refrigeration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the refrigeration unit from the ground-level position and places it directly in the underground mine environment. This eliminates the need for long-distance pipe transportation of cool water, thereby removing the source of energy loss during transport while maintaining the cooling effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces refrigerant as an intermediary substance that circulates through the refrigeration cycle components (evaporator, compressor, condenser, expansion valve) located underground. The refrigerant directly absorbs heat from the mine air in the evaporator and releases it in the condenser, eliminating the need for water transport as a heat transfer medium.
2Power
If a large-power refrigeration unit is used to transport cool water, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but refrigeration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is segmented into distinct functional components (evaporator, compressor, condenser, expansion valve) that are distributed and optimized for their specific functions. This allows each component to operate at optimal efficiency while collectively providing the required cooling capacity, rather than using a single large-power unit that transports water inefficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical water transport system with a refrigeration cycle system using phase change of refrigerant. Instead of mechanically pumping and transporting large volumes of water, the system uses the phase change properties of refrigerant (liquid to gas in evaporator, gas to liquid in condenser) to transfer heat efficiently, significantly improving refrigeration efficiency.
3Temperature
If long-distance pipes are laid for water transport, then cooling delivery is achieved, but laying costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the refrigeration equipment from ground level and relocates it to the underground mine. This eliminates the need to lay long-distance pipes from the surface to deliver cooling, thereby removing the high laying costs associated with extensive piping infrastructure while still achieving effective cooling delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration system serves itself by being located directly where the cooling is needed. The evaporator directly contacts the mine air to absorb heat, and the condenser releases heat to the surrounding environment, creating a self-contained system that eliminates the need for extensive external piping infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces energy loss, increases refrigeration efficiency, and lowers costs by directly transferring downhole air heat to the return air and discharging it to the ground, while also simplifying system arrangement and reducing capital investment.
Implementation Method 1
the fresh air in the air supply well performs heat exchange with the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant in the evaporator
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant absorbs the heat of the refresh air and is evaporated into a superheated low-temperature and low-pressure vapor
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor to a high-temperature and low-pressure state
Implementation Method 4
the refrigerant enters the condenser to perform heat exchange with the return air to transfer its heat to the return air
Implementation Method 5
An inlet of the expansion valve is connected with a refrigerant outlet of the condenser
Data Source
AI summary
A mine cooling and dehumidifying system includes a compressor, a gas-liquid separator, an evaporator, a condenser and an expansion valve. The evaporator is in an air supply well, and the condenser is in a return air well; the compressor, the gas-liquid separator and the expansion valve are all between the air supply well and the return air well; an inlet of the compressor is connected to a refrigerant outlet of the evaporator through the gas-liquid separator, and a refrigerant inlet of the evaporator is connected with an outlet of the expansion valve; an inlet of the expansion valve is connected with a refrigerant outlet of the condenser, and a refrigerant inlet of the condenser is connected with an outlet of the compressor. In the present disclosure, by vapor compression type refrigeration cycle, the downhole air heat is transferred to the return air and then discharged to the ground.