Development of innovative mine energy systems

几项研究预测，在未来十年，经济和监管因素将要求采矿业大幅降低其能源强度和温室气体排放。目前，采矿业是能源密集度最高的行业之一，碳足迹很大。中国对电力的巨大需求主要由化石燃料发电（通常是煤和柴油）来满足。在加拿大，一个典型的地下金属矿山，根据环境和操作条件，以500至1000立方米/秒的新鲜空气进行通风。为了防止地下矿井在冬季结冰并因此损坏设备，必须对吸入气流进行预热，这将花费200万至700万美元的天然气（或丙烷）。此外，在深部地下矿井（深度超过1500米）的夏季，预冷却新鲜空气是一种常见的做法，这对制冷设备来说是4000万到5000万美元的前期（资本）成本，以及每年100万到300万美元的运营（电力）成本。它几乎完全依赖化石燃料（主要是天然气、丙烷和废油）供暖。在依赖柴油动力的偏远采矿作业中，这种对化石燃料的依赖甚至更严重。在加拿大，柴油发电成本通常占离网贱金属露天矿运营成本的15%。能源成本已经占加拿大矿山运营成本的很大一部分（14%至21%）。此外，矿山开始延伸到超出目前标准的深度，其能源需求甚至越来越高。最后但并非最不重要的是新兴的碳税法规产生的剩余成本。加拿大矿业公司认识到转向更节能、碳排放更低的技术的重要性。拟议的研究计划旨在解决加拿大采矿业务面临的主要挑战，反映三个关键观点：创新、HQP培训和可持续发展。它将采用综合和跨学科的方法，在以下三个关键研究主题内开发新的矿山能源系统。地热系统在矿井通风中的应用；储能系统在矿井通风中的应用3。开发一种用于远程采矿作业的余热回收系统。

Several studies predict that over the next decade economic and regulatory factors will require the mining industry to significantly reduce its energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, mining is one of the most energy-intensive industries with a large carbon footprint. Its significant need for electric power is mostly satisfied by fossil-based power generation (usually coal and diesel). In Canada, a typical underground metal mine is ventilated by 500 to 1000 m3/s of fresh air, depending on the ambient and operational conditions. To prevent the freezing of underground mine and the consequent damage to equipment during winter, pre-heating this intake air flow is a necessity which would cost between $2 to 7 million of natural gas (or propane). Also, during summer in deep underground mines (deeper than 1500 meters), pre-cooling the fresh air is a common practice which comes at an up-front (capital) cost of $40 to 50 million for a refrigeration plant as well as $1 to 3 million per annum of operating (electricity) costs. It also relies almost entirely on fossil fuels (mostly natural gas, propane and waste oil) for heating. This fossil fuel dependency is even heavier in remote mining operations where reliance on diesel power dominates. Diesel power costs usually make up to 15% of the operating costs of off-grid base metal open pit operations in Canada. Energy cost already represents a significant part of the operating costs of Canadian mines (14% to 21%). Furthermore, mines are beginning to extend to depths beyond current norms and their energy demand is growing even higher. Last but not the least is the emergence of surplus costs of emerging carbon tax regulations. Canadian mining companies recognize the importance of turning to more energy efficient technologies with lower carbon emissions. The proposed research program aims to address key challenges faced by Canadian mining operations, reflecting three key perspectives: innovation, HQP training and sustainable development. It will adopt an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to develop new mine energy systems within the following three key research themes.i. Application of geothermal systems in mine ventilation;ii. Application of energy storage systems in mine ventilation; iii. Development of a waste heat recovery system for application in remote mining operations.