Mine Bulk Air Cooling

Systems & Offering for the Mining Industry

REI Process provides a variety of systems from water chillers to ice generation for the mining industry. These systems come fully integrated on skids with minimal tie in points ready for immediate installation at site.

The types of packages offered include safe area plant room refrigeration, sub-surface refrigeration and a hybrid variation of surface & underground refrigeration packages suitable for all locations, environments and climatic conditions.

The packages are fully customisable for system temperatures ranging from -20 degC to +10 degC.A variety of refrigerant choices from Ammonia, R134a to HFOs such as R1234yf & R1233zd ensures that an optimal solution is found to meet your requirements.

To ensure high efficiency, our packages come with step less capacity control which minimises power consumption with a fully automated controls enabling unmanned operation around the clock.

At REI Process we pride ourselves as a company with access to a global supply chain. Over the years we have built strong relationships with sub-suppliers for all our major equipment so that we can provide the best in component technology to suit the harshest environments.

These include heat exchangers varying from Shell & tube type, Plate & Frame type, Plate & Fin type, Printed Circuit Type. Compressors ranging from screw type, reciprocating type & centrifugal type.

These systems come with registration and compliance to all required Australian & international standards relevant to the mining industry such as AS1210, AS1677.2, ASME BPVC, AHRI, ASHRAE, IIAR & ISO.

We also adhere to the Australian OSHA, WHS and Mine Safety acts and regulations.

Furthermore, we have established strong partnerships with key players in the industry including drill shaft contractors, BAC suppliers and cooling tower manufacturers to provide complete cooling system offerings.

REI mobilises a dedicated service team in Australia that specialise in commissioning & installation of our packages. We provide on-site training for operators, staff members and have an after sales support team based from our Sydney headquarters to support with daily operations, service & maintenance.

Our packages come with process & mechanical guarantees together with a life of 25 years. We also provide the option for our clients to design the packages with flexibility for future proofing. Examples of this include provision for additional capacity & suitability for transitioning to future refrigerant alternativities.

Types of refrigeration systems we provide

Vapour compression refrigeration (VCR)

This is the most common type of refrigeration system. This system uses mechanical energy by repeating compression and expansion of refrigerant by the Joule-Thomson effect. Its 4 main components are: a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator.

For mining applications, REI Process utilises oil flooded screw compression technology as a standard to ensure optimal cost, reliability and performance efficiency.

Below schematic represents a basic vapour compression refrigeration cycle.

Vapour absorption refrigeration (VAR)

Similar to VCR, the vapour absorption refrigeration system involves an absorber, generator, pump and recuperative heat exchanger in lieu of the compressor.

Vapour absorption system are particularly favoured if there is a source of waste heat available on site (such as steam or fuel gas) as this would dramatically save on utility costs.

For mining applications, REI Process utilises Ammonia as the refrigerant and water as the absorbent. This allows for subzero cooling temperatures compared to LiBr absorption chillers.

Below schematic represents a basic vapour absorption refrigeration cycle.

Advantages & Disadvantages – VCR vs. VAR