Development of a heat strain estimator algorithm control for personal cooling in ultra-deep mining

一个具有持续高水平热应力的职业是超深采矿，岩石表面温度接近60°C，腔室温度通常为40°C，湿度高。因此，即使是中等强度的体力劳动也会导致矿工的热量迅速超过现有的职业热暴露指南，并增加患热疾病的风险。一个额外的风险是长时间运送到地面医疗设施。除了健康 ** 和安全问题外，生产力也因低效的工作-休息制度而降低。此外，可达到的矿石 ** 深度受到谨慎的热应力管理的限制。目前，在超深采矿中减少热应力的主要战略是通过冷却和通风矿井，代价是非常高的能源需求和成本。* * 职业冷却的一个潜在替代方案是个人冷却系统，其中冷却是为个人定制的。除了改善工人的健康，这种方法还具有通过 ** 减少大型采矿室的整体冷却需求而节省大量能源的经济效益。位于安大略省萨德伯里的Jannatec Technologies正在开发一种便携式主动冷却背心，以降低在超深深度工作的矿工的热应激风险，并根据环境条件，活动水平和生理反馈的组合来个性化冷却强度。本提案 ** 通过开发热应变估计算法（HSEA）来调节 ** 该主动冷却背心的冷却，从而支持这一目标。这将通过以下方式实现：1）开发一个模型，根据心率和皮肤温度预测核心温度 **; 2）开发HSEA，预测 ** 不同采矿任务期间的总热量产生; 3）纳入并测试HSEA作为健康预警系统的能力，并 ** 控制个人冷却系统，以减少实验室和实际采矿期间的热应变。总体目标是 ** 在超深采矿中大大减少热应变并提高生产率。

One occupation featuring continuous high levels of heat stress is ultra-deep mining, with the rock face at**temperatures approaching 60°C and chamber temperatures commonly at 40°C with high humidity. Thus, even**moderate physical work can cause miners to quickly exceed existing occupational heat exposure guidelines and**increase risk of heat illness. An extra risk is the prolonged transport to surface medical facilities. Beyond health**and safety concerns, productivity is reduced due to an inefficient work-rest regime. Further, the achievable ore**depths are limited by cautious heat stress management.**Currently, the primary strategy for reducing thermal stress in ultra-deep mining is by cooling and ventilating**mine chambers, with the penalty of very high energy requirements and costs. A potential alternative for**occupational cooling are individual personal cooling systems, where cooling is customized to the individual.**Beyond improving worker health, this approach has the economic benefit of large energy savings through**reducing the need for wholesale cooling of large mining chambers.**Jannatec Technologies, based in Sudbury ON, is developing a portable Active Cooling Vest to decrease the risk**of heat stress for miners working at ultra-deep depths, with cooling intensity individualized based on a**combination of environmental conditions, activity levels, and physiological feedback. The present proposal**supports this target through developing a Heat Strain Estimator Algorithm (HSEA) to regulate the cooling of**this Active Cooling Vest. This will be accomplished by: 1) developing a model to predict core temperature**from heart rate and skin temperature; 2) developing the HSEA to predict overall heat production during**different mining tasks; 3) Incorporate and test the HSEA's ability to serve as a health warning system and to**control a personal cooling system to reduce heat strain in the lab and during actual mining. The overall goal is**to greatly reduce heat strain and increase productivity in ultra-deep mining.