Improvement of efficiency of mine compressor units using resource-saving engineering solutions

Compressors widely used in mining are the equipment that consumes much power, up to 30 % of power balance of a mine. Major energy losses in operation of compressors result from unsatisfactory operation of air intake of the machine, and due to huge emission of secondary energy sources in the form of heat. Improvement of efficiency of mine compressor units using resource-saving engineering solutions is becoming increasingly more relevant these days. In view of substantial appreciation of energy resources, one of the urgent tasks is to reduce power consumption and to enhance energy efficiency of equipment used in the mining industry. The energy loss in a compressor is mainly caused by the change of compressed air parameters during air intake and compression, and by mechanical losses of the unit. The article describes the theoretical and experimental research into improvement of performance of piston compressor units in mines through effective cooling of air taken by a compressor and via profitable utilization of secondary energy sources by implemented advanced resource-saving technical and technological engineering solutions. Capacity, compressed air pressure and energy taken to compress air in piston compressors depend on the air temperature. It is found that the increase of the temperature of air fed to a compressor by 1 °C decreases the machine capacity by 1.2 % and air pressure by 1.3 % while increasing the energy spent to compress 1 m3 of air by 0.018 %. The decrease in the temperature of water for air cooling in a compressor by 1 °C allows reducing the temperature of air chilled down in air cooler by 1.1–1.3 °C.