Technology
Bucket design
The bucket design enables the high throughput through the small diameter mine shafts. The geometry enables them to be filled and emptied quickly so the system can operate in a continuous manner. The symmetry of the material storage volume around the structural chain member means that the suspended chain remains vertical with minimal to no guiding force required along its length. This means there is minimal infrastructure required to be installed along the length of the mine shafts, keeping capital costs down.
Unloading the EcoHoist
The EcoHoist is unloaded by overturning the buckets as they travel around the drive sprocket, in a similar manner to a bucket wheel excavator. The drive sprocket has an angled chute between each tooth corresponding to each bucket. These direct the material out toward the unloading chute. The drive sprocket turns at 3-5 rpm, which corresponds to the chain travelling at about walking speed.
Loading & take-up sprocket
The EcoHoist conveyor is loaded with a continuous stream of material through the loading chute. At the bottom of the loading chute is a multi stage collar that directs material inwards into the buckets and reduces spillage. Any material that spills past the buckets is caught by an apron and returned to the system by an auxiliary belt conveyor.
The tensioning system consists of two static idler sprockets and one mobile tensioner sprocket. The tensioner sprocket moves along a linear guide with a small amount of pretension, and enables the system to handle the elastic elongation it experiences when transitioning from empty to fully laden with material.
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EcoHoist case study
Explores the commercial value created by installing an EcoHoist at an operating underground gold mine.
Cash flow increase of A$273 M
NPV increase A$91 M
42,000 tCO2e reduction
500 ktpa increase in production
5 fewer trucks
Bidirectional capability
A variant of the EcoHoist bucket design enables bidirectional material movement. This means it can simulaneously hoist ore while lowering waste material. This has the advantage that it can of reduce energy consumption and reduce the cost of transporting material back underground for the dry backfilling of mined voids. This could also mean less material needs to be stored in tailings storage facilities on the surface, reducing risk and environmental impacts.
Extending asset life
The EcoHoist’s bidirectional capability means that it can also be used as a key part of a gravity based energy storage system. With some additional infrastructure, an EcoHoist can be converted into a renewable energy storage facility. This provides an opportunity to increase the useful life of the asset after the mineral resource has been depleted.
