A decision analysis guideline for underground bulk air heat exchanger design specifications

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Authors

Hooman, Marle
Webber-Youngman, Ronald C.W.
Du Plessis, J.J.L.
Marx, M.W.

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Journal ISSN

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Publisher

Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Abstract

This paper discusses a study that investigated different underground bulk air heat exchanger (>100 m3/s) design criteria. A literature review found that no single document exists covering all design criteria for different heat exchangers, and therefore the need was identified to generate a guideline with decision analyser steps to arrive at a technical specification. The study investigated the factors influencing heat exchanger designs (spray chambers, towers, and indirect-contact heat exchangers) and the technical requirements for each. The decision analysers can be used to generate optimized, user-friendly fit-forpurpose designs for bulk air heat exchangers (air cooler and heat rejection). The study was tested against a constructed air cooler and heat rejection unit at a copper mine1. It was concluded that the decision analysers were used successfully. This tool (decision analysers) can be used by engineers for the efficient and cost-effectively design of heat exchangers.

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Keywords

Mine refrigeration, Water-air, Heat exchanger design, Decision analyser

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Hooman, M, Webber-Youman, RCW, Du Plessis, JJL & Marx, MW 2015, 'A decision analysis guideline for underground bulk air heat exchanger design specifications', Journal of The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, vol. 115 , pp. 125-129.