MineARC Systems
TBM Mounted
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MineARC Systems specialises in designing and custom building refuge chambers for use in the tunnelling and underground construction industries, where fires and fall of ground during the construction phases can represent potential hazards to personnel. MineARC Tunnel Refuges perform the same life-preserving functions as standard mine refuge chambers, however they can be custom built to virtually any configuration in order to meet the specific needs of an individual tunnelling/construction project.
Providing safety at the rear of the Tunnel Boring Machine cutting head infrastructure (TBM), MineARC’s electrically powered, gantry-mounted TBM Refuge model offers premium safety features (details below), regardless of size constraints. MineARC can design and manufacture each refuge to meet a project’s specific needs, without compromising on occupancy potential or safety. MineARC is available and on-hand during the entire project-planning and TBM design phase to ensure the best possible safety solution.
5MM (1/4") STEEL CONSTRUCTION
The Refuge's shell is built from 5mm (1/4") steel plate TO ALL SIDES, comprising pressed sections to minimise joints. The shell is then reinforced with 100mm (4") PFC steel for extra strength and protection. For additional protection, rubber bolsters can be added to all four corners.
The Refuge is fitted with a skid base, IT fork slots, lifting lugs and towing points for easy transportation.
AIR CONDITIONING
MineARC recognises that cooling the refuge chamber’s interior is essential to providing a safe ongoing environment. Aside from the effects of ambient (external) mine temperature effecting the flow of transient heat in and out of the refuge, occupants themselves will generate between 120-180W of metabolic heat every hour. Multiple independent tests have proven that without cooling, temperatures inside an occupied refuge can reach potentially fatal levels within just a few hours.
All MineARC electrically powered refuge chambers are therefore fitted with quality reverse cycle air conditioners. Under normal circumstances, the air conditioning and all other life support is designed to run off ‘mains’ power supply. However, in the result that mains connection has been lost during in an emergency, the refuge chambers’ battery back-UPS system will continue to power the air conditioning systems for a minimum of 36hrs, standalone.
Many industry Guidelines/Regulations around the world now state that the internal (apparent) temperature of a refuge must not rise above 30°C / 86°F, even at prolonged ambient (external) temperatures as high as 60°C / 140°F. MineARC HRM refuge chambers have been successfully tested to meet and exceed these standards.
AIR LOCK
Depending on the industry, the type of mine/operation and the country/region, the airlock is either a mandatory or an optional feature. MineARC representatives can assist you with information on the guidelines and legislation relevant to you.
MineARC's airlock system incorporates a double-door design and push-button flushing, with occupancy varying depending on the size of the refuge chamber and client specifications. The entry door opens externally due to positive pressure from the airlock flushing system. The airlock door opens inwards to the main refuge. Both doors have explosion proof portal windows for viewing into the airlock and main refuge.
Before entry of the airlock, the first flush is commenced by activating a push-button outside the refuge. The occupant then enters the airlock and activates the second push-button before entry into the main refuge.
The airlock compartment contains low pressure and high pressure cylinders which provide100% volume air exchange inside the airlock, with each flush. The standard airlock can operate for up to 60 flushes.
AIR SYSTEMS
A MineARC refuge chamber is fitted with three (3) separate air/oxygen supply systems. Should one supply fail or become exhausted, the next supply takes over:
1. Filtered and Silenced Compressed Air Supply ('Mine Air').
Under normal circumstances a MineARC refuge will be fitted to 'mains' air supply - providing a continuous supply of oxygen (O2) and automatically flushing the refuge of a build-up in CO/CO2 generated. The refuge is sealed air tight to achieve positive internal pressure, hence 'old' air continuously exits via the one-way vents at the front of the refuge.
The refuge is fitted for receiving mine air with the following components:
1" Pre Filter with Auto Drain; 1" Coalescing Filter with Auto Drain; 1" Absorption Filter with Auto Drain; Regulator and Silencer
2. Medical Grade Oxygen Cylinders
Should mine air fail, the CO/CO2 scrubbing system is activated and medical grade compressed oxygen (supplied in high pressure metal cylinders), are on hand to continue providing a steady supply of O2 to the refuge. Fitted with a standard regulator, the cylinder outputs can be adjusted to suit entrapment time and number of occupants
3. Oxygen Candle
Most MineARC refuge chambers are fitted with O2 candles as standard. Should all O2 cylinders become exhausted, each O2 candle will provide a minimum of 6 additional hours supply, based on a fully occupied 20 person refuge (the lower the occupancy, the greater supply and hence longer safe entrapment time). The candle is a solid block of chlorate chemical mixture, which upon ignition, produces high purity O2 in a controlled manner. They are commonly used in submarines, aerospace systems, personnel shelters and other safe havens. They have long shelf lives, occupy minimal space and require no maintenance. They are also safer in confined spaces than liquid or compressed O2.
CHAMBER FLOOD PROTECTION
MineARC’s refuge chamber flood protection valve is suitable for all MineARC refuge chamber models, and is designed to prevent water from entering the chamber via the compressed (mine) air intake.
Flooding of the refuge chamber in this manner occurs either by accidently connecting water supply to the compressed air intake, or when water infiltrates the mine air supply.
The flood protection valve is situated at the end of the standard mine air filter kit - a three stage air filtration process that filters all air entering the refuge chamber.
Each filter housing includes a standard auto-drain for relieving compressed (mine) air condensation as it passes through the filter. The flood protection valve however is designed for sudden rushes of significant water flow – sealing the intake shut once water pressure reaches 8BAR.
CO & CO2 SCRUBBING
MineARC's Electrically Powered carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) Scrubbing System is a self-contained unit designed to remove the build up of these potentially harmful gases from the air inside the refuge. The build up in CO/CO2 is caused by the occupants themselves - as they exhaust oxygen and replace with CO/CO2. Without scrubbing, the atmosphere inside an occupied refuge can become fatal in a matter of hours.
MineARC developed its electrically powered Scrubbing System to provide occupants with ease of use, extended time periods between chemical change outs, and varying levels of scrubbing capacity. MARCISORB 1000 (CO) and MARCISORB 1500 (CO2) pre-filled chemical containers provide proven absorbing capabilities and are easy to handle and store for long periods.
The Scrubber's Digital Control System combines the latest in bidirectional inverter technology with state of the art micro-processers to offer the most advanced, reliable and cost effective control system in the world. The system incorporates comprehensive battery management and monitoring features, enhanced communications, one touch emergency operation and automatic programmable atmospheric testing.
CUSTOM DESIGNED TO PROJECT
MineARC understands that each tunnelling project is different, with unique challenges present at every stage. Despite having developed numerous 'standard' configurations for TBM Gantry-Mounted, and Rail Mounted units, MineARC Tunnel Refuges are essentially custom-designed towards a client's own specific requirements. MineARC is on hand from pre-planning and design, through to construction and post construction to deliver the most effective safe-refuge solution for your project.
Aside from the usual construction, occupancy, transport configurations and life support features, a wide range of additional features and options are available, including additional seating, bunk-beds, kitchen appliances and first aid facilities.
DIGITAL GAS MONITORING
Every MineARC refuge chamber comes equipped with either a Digital Gas Monitoring system (DGM) or manual gas monitoring system. A DGM system continuously monitors and alerts occupants to the levels of CO, CO2 and O2 (oxygen) inside the chamber and includes external monitoring capability. Under a manual gas monitoring system, occupants use special chemical tubes and a pump to extract samples of the air inside the chamber. Manual gas monitoring must be performed at regular intervals (e.g. hourly).
EUROPEAN CE CERTIFIED
'CE Certification’ is required for electrical products sold within the 27 countries of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), and also applies in general to countries surrounding the EU.
The CE mark demonstrates that a product has met EU consumer safety, health and/or environmental requirements.
MineARC HRM refuge chambers are European CE Certified to ‘machinery norms' and are compliant with relevant general and industry specific standards regarding risk reduction.
MINIMUM 36HR SAFE ENTRAPMENT
MineARC electrically powered refuge chambers are designed to run off a mine's 'mains' electrical power supply, powering the refuge chamber’s internal life support systems indefinitely whilst connected.
However, in the event that mains power is lost, the refuge is equipped with its own Battery Back-UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply), housed in a secure compartment at the rear of the refuge. The UPS is capable of powering the refuge chamber’s internal life support systems for a minimum of 36hrs, standalone, as standard. The UPS can be upgraded to 48hrs and 96hrs as required
REAR ESCAPE HATCH
The rear escape hatch offers an alternative means of exiting the refuge in the event that the main front entrance has become blocked, or is otherwise unsafe.
Therefore, an inward opening ‘hatch’ door is situated towards the rear of the refuge, featuring an air-tight seal and internal locking handle. The hatch door is made from 5mm (1/4") steel plate.
TOXIC GAS SOS
Suitable for all MineARC refuge chamber models, the Toxic Gas Shut Off System (SOS) enables the automatic shut off of compressed air if toxic gas levels are detected in excessive amounts. The SOS system is designed to protect occupants from potentially fatal gases which can be pumped into the chamber if the compressed air supply is compromised.
The system is pre-programmed to shut off the compressed air supply if toxic gas levels greater than 30 PPM is detected.
The unit will not allow the mine supplied compressed air to be reset until the toxic gas level falls below the nominated threshold. The LED screen located on the front of the control unit gives the toxic gas readings in real time.
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