Fans/Ventilation

Howden fans are relied upon to maintain safe and comfortable conditions for workers within underground mines. They draw large volumes of air through the ventilation system and extract waste air and harmful gases from protected spaces.

The product range covers axial, centrifugal and mixed flow fans in a vast variety of configurations for both underground and surface fan applications. They provide versatility, economic advantages, low noise characteristics and outstanding aerodynamic performance.

• Cost-effective, low-maintenance solution in providing high efficiency over a wide operating range for applications
• Suitable for clean to moderately dirty air handling large air volumes
• Blade pitch control can be either manually adjustable at rest or auto-variable pitch
• Highest efficiencies possible

• Suitable for higher pressure, lower flow operation with a wide range of design flexibility
• Most common solution for primary ventilation applications
• Custom engineered fans to precisely meet the application requirements of the most demanding specifications
• Robust fan design and suitable for dirty and corrosive air in exhaust Return Air Raises (RAR)
• Lowest noise footprint

• Cost-effective alternative to an axial flow fan in situations where dust loads are of concern
• The mixed flow impeller is more robust and not susceptible to performance deterioration due to wear of the blades
• Combines the benefits of Axial & Centrifugal Fans, being very robust and at the same time able to handle large air volumes

• Designed to give the highest fan output at low power consumption, providing high efficiencies across a broad operating range
• Aerofoil blade design with efficiencies of over 85% possible
• Adjustable pitch blades maximise operational envelope
• Flexible and modular design - commonality of parts and flexibility on the arrangement, components and number of stages

• Improve or augment the ventilation in a segment of the mine
• May also be used to support flow requirements in particular locations of the mine where vertical raisers are not possible
• Operating Range 250m3/sec, 5kPa, 1500kW

Ventsim software aids designers in understanding and developing the best systems attuned to the conditions of each mine, while Ventsim CONTROL optimizes operational safety, control and efficiency.

Mine Air Heating and Cooling

With mines located in some of the world’s most extreme climates, temperature control is a vital part of successful operation. This is also impacted by the increasing depth underground mine are reaching, necessitating cooling for safe and productive working environments.

Howden’s cooling and heating technology integrates seamlessly with the whole ventilation system.

A wide range of heaters and cooling systems are available to condition the air for supply within the mine, meaning there is great flexibility in regard to required capacity and other factors such as potential fuel sources, emissions, site configurations and operational efficiencies.

Aim: to provide controlled levels temperature within the mine ventilation system and enable continuous productive and safe working areas.

• Mine air cooling
• Mine air heating

• Mine cooling systems – surface Bulk Air Coolers (BAC), hard ice plants, centralised underground refrigeration, spot coolers
• Mine heaters – direct and indirect-fired heaters, electric heaters, thermal heat recovery

Digital Solutions

Howden has a suite of software products available through Ventsim able to enhance ventilation system design, optimise controls to achieve safe and efficient operation and enable effective liquid flows onsite.

Ventsim software is the ultimate 3D mine ventilation design solution. It allows you to create a 3D model of your tunnels, shafts and raises using your existing 3D mine drawings.

• Accurately simulate the ventilation environment to design, evaluate, and optimize underground mine ventilation systems
• Real-time animated 3D graphics represent actual airway dimensions and shapes with animated airflows
• Useful in all stages of ventilation design, from assessing needs and selecting hardware in planning stages to ongoing optimization of everyday mine operations

Ventsim CONTROL allows you to operate on a fully automated and optimised mine ventilation solution, including Ventilation-On-Demand, based on vehicle and personnel presence.

• Better ventilation for improved production, blast-clearing times, energy savings, and, most importantly, increased safety for underground workers
• Includes scheduling and events, tagging and tracking technology and powerful data analytics tools

A 3-dimensional software package that simulates the pumping and transportation of liquids and slurries through piping systems and networks.

• Simulate the behaviour of fluids inside your network in your pipes over time
• Create a 3D representation of your system, or design your ideal one
• Intuitive and easy to use user interface means that you can quickly create your simulation and start getting results and actions to implement in your mine

Water Treatment

Responsible mining involves ensuring wastewater quality standards are maintained to protect the local environment and be compliant with regulations.

Chart has specialist water treatment and reuse technology that enables mines to remove a wide variety of contaminants from mine wastewater.

Aim: to treat wastewater to acceptable standards required for re-use or safe discharge.

• Mine wastewater treatment

• Chart water solutions – modular units to full scale plants

With increasing scrutiny over wastewater discharge to maintain ecological environments around mines, it's important to understand the mix of contaminants present in mine water and have a robust method of treatment.

ChartWater™ offers the most efficient, cost-effective solutions for contaminant removal, including PFAS and arsenic, aerobic biological processes, pH adjustment, ozonation, desalination, odor control and aeration.

A gold mine located in Nevada, USA, had arsenic and antimony levels in the raw water well above the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) maximum contaminant level of 0.01 mg/L and 0.006 mg/L respectively.

Chart designed, manufactured, and commissioned an arsenic and antimony removal system rated for 1400 gallons per minute (gpm). Following a pilot, which validated the treatment approach and water quality, a full-scale system was commissioned including a coagulation/ filtration system and an adsorption system for the site.

Power Generation

Mines often operate far from national pipeline grids and increased environmental pressures and high fuel costs are increasingly moving operators away from diesel and HFO towards lower carbon energy solutions.

Chart designs and builds complete LNG storage and vaporization solutions that enable remote mines to use natural gas as a primary fuel source. LNG is delivered to site in cryogenic transport trailers and/or ISO containers where it is stored and vaporized to provide natural gas at the point of use.

Chart LNG storage and revaporization systems are proven across multiple industry sectors, including mining, and meet all the key operational challenges:

• Continuous, stable and reliable power supply for heavy machinery, ventilation systems and similar functions
• Equipment is perfectly suited to extreme temperatures and harsh environments
• Enable mining companies to reduce their environmental impact with reductions in NOx, SOx, particulates and carbon dioxide

Example

A Chart LNG system is the primary fuel source for a diamond mine located in far north Quebec, Canada, well away from the electric and gas pipeline grids.

Digital reliability

Digital integration strengthens the value of the physical portfolio. Cordant™, Baker Hughes’ modular, AI-enabled industrial enterprise solution, helps mining operators improve asset performance, reliability and operational agility by connecting asset, operational and maintenance data with actionable insights. Together with Bently Nevada™ technologies, these capabilities support machinery protection, condition monitoring and asset performance management across critical assets. Combined with Ventsim™ CONTROL, they help teams identify developing issues, prioritize intervention and make faster, more informed decisions to improve availability.

Integrated water and process solutions

Baker Hughes extends the combined offering into mine water management through centrifugal, amphibious and electrical submersible pumps, surface pumping systems, valves, specialty chemicals and PythonPipe™ flexible composite pipe. These solutions support open-pit and underground dewatering, water intake, long-distance transfer, process water and slurry duties. Integrated combinations, such as amphibious pumps with flexible corrosion-resistant pipe, can simplify deployment and reduce maintenance exposure.

Water stewardship extends beyond transfer. Chart water treatment technologies and Baker Hughes chemical-treatment capabilities address water reuse, safe discharge, solid-liquid separation, contaminant control and metals recovery. Linking pumping, piping, valves, treatment chemistry and monitoring can give mine operators a more coordinated approach to water security, process continuity and environmental performance.

Future ready mining

For remote and energy-intensive operations, Baker Hughes and Chart technologies support a practical pathway toward lower-carbon mining. Chart contributes LNG and hydrogen storage, regasification and vehicle fueling systems. Baker Hughes adds natural-gas and hydrogen-capable power generation, geothermal technologies, carbon capture, emissions-abatement solutions and low- or no-carbon microgrid concepts. This broader portfolio allows mines to evaluate resilient power, energy efficiency and emissions reduction as part of one operational strategy.