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

一个具有持续高热应力水平的职业是超深部采矿，岩面温度**接近60摄氏度，矿场温度通常为40摄氏度，湿度很高。因此，即使是**中等体力工作也会导致矿工迅速超过现有的职业高温暴露指南，并**增加患中暑的风险。另一个风险是前往地面医疗设施的长时间运输。除了健康和安全问题外，由于作息制度效率低下，生产率也会降低。此外，可实现的矿石深度**受到谨慎的热应力管理的限制。**目前，在超深部采矿中减少热应力的主要策略是通过冷却和通风**矿室，但代价是非常高的能源需求和成本。**职业降温的一个潜在选择是个人个人降温系统，其中降温是为个人定制的。**除了改善工人的健康外，这种方法还可以通过**减少大型矿房的大规模降温**来节省大量能源。**总部位于萨德伯里的Jannatec Technologies正在开发一种便携式主动降温背心，以降低在超深层工作的矿工的热压风险**，降温强度根据环境条件、活动水平和生理反馈的**组合而个性化。目前的提案**通过开发热应变估计算法(HSEA)来支持这一目标，以调节**这种主动冷却背心的冷却。这将通过以下方式实现：1)开发根据心率和皮肤温度预测核心温度**的模型；2)开发HSEA以预测**不同采矿任务**的总体产热量；3)整合和测试HSEA作为健康预警系统和**控制个人冷却系统的能力，以减少实验室和实际采矿过程中的热压力。总体目标是**在超深部开采中大幅降低热应力并提高生产率。

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.