https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Johnson Controls supply second round of York chillers for Implats’ No 16 Shaft

29th October 2018

     

Font size: - +

This article has been supplied as a media statement and is not written by Creamer Media. It may be available only for a limited time on this website.

Johnson Controls  (0.03 MB)

Johnson Controls has supplied two York YK centrifugal chillers to Impala Platinum (Implats) for the planned second phase expansion of cooling capacity for its No. 16 Shaft as it heads toward a depth of 1 650 m. The chillers will be installed by the end of August 2018 and the start-up of the extension is planned for September of the same year.

The surface air cooling plant for the No 16 Shaft was designed and established in 2008 by mine ventilation and refrigeration specialists Bluhm Burton Engineering Consulting (BBE), who were appointed by Implats to provide a turnkey solution that included the design, construction and commissioning of the overall refrigeration plant and air cooling system. Richard Gundersen of BBE says: “The cooling plant is designed to facilitate six chillers in total as production builds up and demand for cooling increases.

The first two chillers, also York machines, were installed almost 10 years ago and we are now entering the second phase of the cooling expansion.”

Russell Hattingh of Johnson Controls adds: “The two 7 MWR York YK chillers are newer models of the two York machines initially installed. They deliver improved performance and offer a wider operating envelope, while still meeting the Impala standard.”

“BBE prides itself on its independent supplier approach when designing ventilation solutions. We select solutions that will meet the needs of the project. Cooling is mission critical for mining operations, so the requirement is for chiller solutions that are robust, reliable and efficient.”

The cooling solution, including the first two refrigeration machines, the initial two condenser cooling towers, the complete spray chamber shells, and spray piping for the first phase of bulk air cooling was constructed in 2008. For the second phase, two new machines have been installed and two new cooling towers have been constructed. The new chillers will be operational by the end of September 2018, adding 14 MWR of cooling.

Gundersen notes: “We need air cooled to approximately 13°C on the surface so that the working areas, at a depth of 1 650m, are below the legal working limit. The virgin rock temperatures are 55°C at these depths, so cooling is vital for production. Water is chilled by the refrigeration machines and sprayed into the horizontal spray chambers. Axial flow fans force ambient air through the spray chambers and into the barrel of the main (downcast) shaft to reach the underground workings. With the added cooling capacity, Implats will meet the environmental needs of the workforce.”

Implats has confidence in York chiller solutions. “The mine has used the York chillers across its operations for more than two decades, consistently selecting them for proven reliability. The custom requirements we build into the equipment for Implats has become a standard for mining solutions on the continent.

We are pleased to be able to continue supplying Implats and are committed to ensuring our York chillers meet the stringent demands of specialists such as BBE and they get the highest level of support from our teams.” concludes Hattingh.

 

The third and final phase of cooling will be rolled out in 5-10 years’ time, increasing cooling capacity to 42 MWR.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Yale Lifting Solutions
Yale Lifting Solutions

Yale Lifting Solutions is a leading supplier of lifting and material handling equipment in Southern Africa. Yale offers a wide range of quality...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa (Pty) Ltd
Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa (Pty) Ltd

Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa is sole distributors for Goodwin electrically driven, submersible, abrasion resistance slurry pumps.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.072 0.127s - 158pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now