MineARC engineered two custom-design, compact TunnelSAFE Refuge Chambers for a water supply project by the Japanese Civil Engineering Company, MAEDA. MAEDA are well-known for their infrastructure development and advocacy for environmental management. The chambers will fit onto a Komatsu Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for a 2700mm diameter sewerage tunnel, approximately 50 kilometres long. The tunnel is being built between Hiroshima and Kure in Southern Honshu, Japan.
Custom Refuge Chamber for an Underground Water Project
Unique to these 5-person capacity chambers are their dimensions, each standing at just 1.15m high, 0.9m wide, and 7.5m long. The base frames of the chambers have been designed to mount onto a bogie chassis (a framework of axles and wheels). The compact TunnelSAFE design allows for fast entry within small-bore operations and features an ELV Controller and chemical scrubbing system. In addition, sufficient space has been allowed for chemical cartridge storage and three compressed oxygen cylinders.
The TunnelSAFE Refuge Chambers also included MineARC’s proprietary Compact Aura-FX Digital Fixed Gas Monitoring System. An evolution of the standard Aura-FX unit, the compact unit features just two digital screens while still monitoring the internal atmosphere for temperature, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide gas levels.
Design Features of the Compact Refuge Chamber
Structurally the chambers featured four porthole viewing windows and removable lifting points.
All other standard TunnelSAFE major operating systems include:
- an air conditioning system for temperature control;
- MineARC’S Compressed Air Management System (CAMS) to provide clean, breathable air to the refuge chamber;
- the Pressurised Access Safety System (PASS) to ensure safe entry into the refuge chamber;
- the Positive Pressure Maintenance System (PPMS) to maintain positive internal pressure within the shelter;
- a secure cabinet at the rear to house the 24-hour Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), should mains power become cut-off.
MineARC prides itself on integrity, customisation and providing our clients with quality products and technology to meet their specific requirements.
Drilling for the tunnel project will commence in early 2018.
