TLT-Turbo Powers Reliability for Artemievskaya Mine Ventilation Upgrade
When faced with the need to replace outdated exhaust fans to enhance ventilation efficiency, DIM STROY TOO, in collaboration with TLT-Turbo, undertook the Artemievskaya Mine Ventilation Upgrade project. The end customer, Artemievskaya Mine, operated by KAZ Minerals, required a solution to ensure 24/7, 365-day operation with minimal disruption.
DIM STROY TOO, an EPC and service supplier, spearheaded the project for Artemievskaya Mine, located in the North-East of Kazakhstan. KAZ Minerals operates several locations in the CIS Region.
The mine's existing exhaust fans, provided by a third-party Ukrainian company, fell short of delivering sufficient ventilation. The challenge was to replace these existing double inlet centrifugal fans while minimizing alterations to the original structure. The customer requested that the maximum operating point be doubled from 200 m³/s to 400 m³/s volume flow. This resulted in an upgrade that increased the total motor power from 1,250 to 5,000 kW.
Engineering challenges behind the upgrade
The existing fan housing, partially made of concrete, posed a unique challenge. Only the upper half of the housing could be replaced, requiring TLT-Turbo to design a new fan impeller and upper housing to achieve the desired performance increase.
The upgrade had to accommodate airflow humidity of up to 80% and operate in temperatures ranging from -45°C to +45°C. All while meeting the customer's requirement for the lowest possible fan noise emissions.
Proven expertise for complex ventilation challenges
TLT-Turbo's positive track record with various fan installations in the CIS region and the ability to meet the requirements of local technical standards were crucial factors. This included also the ability to seamlessly adapt designs to comply with these regulatory requirements. Every TLT-Turbo product is designed for a particular application and is tailored to suit specific operating environments and the needs of each customer by matching the required performance with maximum efficiency.
Transforming an existing fan into a high-performance system
TLT-Turbo's engineers conducted on-site measurements in Kazakhstan to design a tailor-made solution. The challenge was to fit the new impeller and upper housing into the decades-old concrete housing, achieving the desired performance upgrade. The solution included a new rotor, main shaft, intermediate shaft, couplings, bearings, brakes, upper housing, and oil unit.
Performance beyond expectations
After a final inspection, the upgraded fans met all guaranteed parameters and have since operated reliably in service, achieving an efficiency of over 80%. While maintaining the original fan diameter and avoiding major modifications to the existing installation, the upgrade achieved a significant increase in ventilation performance. The upgrade enabled a tripling of the fan power and aerodynamic performance. This remarkable improvement was achieved by doubling the volume flow and increasing the air velocity accordingly. Despite increasing the motor power by a factor of four, the fan efficiency was maintained at above 80%.
Engineering excellence that delivers
This project demonstrates TLT-Turbo’s ability to develop customized solutions for complex operating environments. By combining engineering expertise, flexibility, and a deep understanding of customer requirements, TLT-Turbo achieved significant performance improvements on a decades-old installation with only minimal structural modifications. For demanding fan upgrades in the mining and industrial sectors, this retrofit approach offers a proven path to higher efficiency without the cost of full replacement.