Bulk air coolers improving efficiencies and working conditions

20th November 2020 By: Khutso Maphatsoe - journalist

Bulk air coolers improving efficiencies and working conditions

COOLER CONDITIONS Bulk air coolers reduce the working temperatures inside a mine, consequently enabling mineworkers to operate in better conditions and allowing for improved efficiencies

Thermal engineering solutions provider Industrial Water Cooling (IWC) recently supplied a field-erected bulk air cooler for a mine site in Burkina Faso, in addition, supplying the associated condenser cooling towers for the associated refrigeration plant. Further to this, several cooling towers have been supplied to mines in Australia via its local entity, IWC Australasia. 

Apart from supplying cooling systems to gold and platinum mines, IWC is also involved in other deep-level mining projects including copper and potentially potash mining projects, explains IWC MD Roger Rusch.

As mines are becoming deeper, temperatures at the rockface have increased, with mines requiring more cooling to reduce the temperatures to manageable levels.

“With rock temperatures exceeding 60 °C, it is important for mines to install ventilation and cooling systems to safeguard employee health,” he says.

Rusch adds that bulk air coolers reduce the working temperatures inside a mine, consequently enabling mineworkers to operate in better conditions and allowing for improved efficiencies.

He points out that IWC not only provides cooling towers and bulk air coolers but also supplies heat exchangers that are used at refrigeration plants and large capacity Engie chillers.

The company can provide a complete solution, including design, supply and construction, for bulk air cooling plants on an engineering, procurement and construction contract basis, he concludes.