Development of the Ice Wall during the Construction of Vertical Mine Shafts

Abstract

The issue of creating and maintaining an ice wall (ICW) for mine shafts is considering in this article. The relevance of the study is due to the growing demand for such minerals as, for example, potash ore. Such ore is mined by the mine method, in which ICW is used to ensure the strength and waterproofing of the shaft. The main problem lies in the correct calculation of the required thickness of the ICW and cooling capacity, the choice of modes and freeze mechanism. The choice of different solutions affects capital and operating costs. The task is to assess the influence of the freezing pipe layout and the selected coolant temperature on the cost of capital and operating costs. Also, the analysis of the influence of the above factors on the process of soil freezing itself was carried out. Analytical methods of calculation and special software were used for the study. The reasons were considered that did not allow creating a closed ice wall, since they are often caused not by the choice of a circuit design and temperature regime, but by a violation of the drilling technology and installation of pipes. As a result, this article brings together the experience of creating an ice wall and provides a comparative analysis of various solutions.