Belaruskali JSC, Soligorsk, Belarus:

I. I. Golovaty, CEO

Mining Institute, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russia

L. Yu. Levin, Deputy Director of Science, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

M. A. Semin, Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, seminma@inbox.ru
A. V. Pugin, Researcher, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

The article analyzes the current approaches to artificial ground freezing control during shaft construction in mines. The earlier freezing-on-demand concept is added with some basic strategies and principles. The application of the concept is described as a case-study of shaft construction in a potash mine in the Republic of Belarus. Some features of ground freezing during construction of two mine shafts are defined and analyzed. The most interesting engineering solutions toward the improved safety and energy efficiency of shaft sinking are presented. These solutions include the introduction of the interval sinking permit, which allows earlier start of heading operations in both shafts, and the introduction of a certain package of actions governed by the presence of a fluid flow in one of the rock layers meant for freezing. The developed package of actions allowed the skip shaft sinking without any accident risk and violation of work schedules. Advanced drilling during shaft sinking showed lack of water in rocks. With the package of actions implemented, the shaft sinking and lining was successfully completed in a complicated interval of the section, and, later on, the shaft waterproofing and the adjacent rock consolidation were accomplished. On the whole, the implementation of the freezing-on-demand concept ensured saving of energy supply in frozen wall formation around two shafts more than 3 MkW·h.
The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 19-77-30008.

1. Olkhovikov Yu. P. Support of permanent workings of potassium and salt deposits. Moscow : Nedra, 1984. 238 p.
2. Vakulenko I. S., Nikolaev P. V. Analysis and outlook for development of artificial freezing of rocks in underground construction. GIAB. 2015. No. 3. pp. 338–346.
3. Minghan Xu, Saad Akhtar, Zueter A. F., Auger V., Alzoubi M. A. et al. Development of Analytical Solution for a Two-Phase Stefan Problem in Artificial Ground Freezing Using Singular Perturbation Theory. Journal of Heat Transfer. 2020. Vol. 142, Iss. 12. 122401. DOI: 10.1115/1.4048137
4. Kostina A., Zhelnin M., Plekhov O., Panteleev I., Levin L. et al. An Applicability of Vyalov’s equations to ice wall strength estimation. Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale. 2020. Vol. 14, No. 53. pp. 394–405.
5. Semin M. A., Levin L. Yu., Parshakov O. S. Selection of working conditions and substantiation of operating mode of freezing pipes in maintenance of frozen wall thickness. Journal of Mining Science. 2020. Vol. 56, No. 5. pp. 857–867.
6. Levin L., Golovatyi I., Zaitsev A., Pugin A., Semin M. Thermal monitoring of frozen wall thawing after artificial ground freezing: Case study of Petrikov Potash Mine. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 2021. Vol. 107. 103685. DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2020.103685
7. Chanjuan Han, Xiong Bill Yu. Sensitivity analysis of a vertical geothermal heat pump system. Applied Energy. 2016. Vol. 170. pp. 148–160.
8. Lackner R., Amon A., Lagger H. Artificial Ground Freezing of Fully Saturated Soil: Thermal Problem. Journal of Engineering Mechanics. 2005. Vol. 131, Iss. 2. pp. 211–220.
9. Alzoubi M. A., Nie-Rouquette A., Ghoreishi-Madiseh S. A., Hassani F. P., Sasmito A. P. On the concept of the fre ezing-on-demand (FoD) in artificial ground freezing for longterm applications. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2019. Vol. 143. 118557. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118557
10. Wallace K., Prosser B., Stinnette J. D. The practice of mine vent ilation engineering. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2015. Vol. 25, Iss. 2. pp. 165–169.
11. Golovaty I. I. Levin L. Yu., Parshakov O. S., Diulin D. A. Optimization of frozen wall formation in shaft construction. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2018. No. 8. pp. 48–53.
12. Yang Zhou, Guoqing Zhou. Intermittent freezing mode to reduce frost heave in freezing soils – experiments and mechanism analysis. Canadian Geotechnical Journal. 2012. Vol. 49, No. 6. pp. 686–693.
13. Parshakov O. S. Automated system of thermal logging control for frozen walls : Dissertation of Candidate of Engineering Sciences. Perm, 2020. 140 p.
14. Semin M., Golovatyi I., Pugin A. Analysis of Temperature Anomalies during Thermal Monitoring of Frozen Wall Formation. Fluids. 2021. Vol. 6, Iss. 8. 297. DOI: 10.3390/fluids6080297
15. Tarasov V. V., Pestrikova V. S. Review of shaft excavation accidents at upper Kama potash deposit. GIAB. 2015. No. 5. pp. 23–29.
16. Tuck M. A., Finch C., Holden J. Ventilation on demand: A preliminary study for Ballarat Goldfields NL. Proceedings of the 11^th U.S./North American Mine Ventilation Symposium. London : Taylor & Francis Group, 2006. pp. 11–14.
17. Bo Zhang, Weihao Yang, Baosheng Wang. Plastic Design Theory of Frozen Wall Thickness in an Ultradeep Soil Layer Considering Large Deformation Characteristics. Mathematical Problems in Engineering. 2018.Vol. 2018. 8513413. DOI: 10.1155/2018/8513413
18. Design, monitoring and control guidelines for artificial ground freezing in shaft construction in potassium mines of Belaruskali. Perm–Soligorsk, 2019. 65 p.