Quantifying the impact of water mismanagement on latent heat in deep-level mines

MEng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusSouth African mines are increasing in depth and temperature. This temperature increase has a negative effect on an employee’s ability to perform their daily tasks underground which directly affects the mines’ production. Water mismanagement leads to increased water on the footwall. This increase in water contributes to the increase in latent heat pick-up in the airstream. The need of the study is to quantify the latent heat pick-up in deep-level mines due to water mismanagement. A universal method was developed to quantify the latent heat and translate it to the cost implications of supplying additional cooling to mitigate this latent heat. The methodology is applied to two real-world case studies (deep-level gold mines). Case study 1 was a conventional mine, and the results show that for every 1 2 of water, R276 000 of additional cooling is required annually to counteract latent heat pick-up. Case study 2 was a mechanised mine, and the results show that for every 1 2 of water, R1.5M of additional cooling is required annually to counteract latent heat pick-up. Water mismanagement was addressed in Case study 2 and the effect was evaluated. This resulted in a wet-bulb temperature decrease of 4.2°C which is equivalent to an additional cost of cooling of R912 500. This indicates the importance of addressing water mismanagement in deep-level mines for both costs saving as well as production benefits.Master