Examples of tasks

In practice, NaCl brine purification uses soda-caustic method (chemical reaction) with conversion to insoluble calcium and magnesium compounds and introduction of a coagulant/flocculant to enlarge suspended particles and precipitate. New methods and components for this operation to clean solutions from hard salts are of interest.

The currently used platinum-based catalysts are rather expensive, and during technological processes, precious metals drift from the catalyst surface is very high. The problem of introducing (nanoscale) catalysts based on cobalt compounds instead of platinum in the production of mineral fertilizers is to be solved.

Dust emissions and noise are generated during mining operations at coal mines. This has a detrimental effect on the environment, including nearby residential areas, agricultural enterprises, etc.

In the course of operation of manufactures various kinds of waste paper are produced. Additional options for its processing are desirable, with further use of the obtained materials for coal plants' needs.

When dismantling mobile railroad tracks in winter labor costs are increased. Developing a comprehensive set of measures to reduce labor costs is a relevant issue.

A current problem during coal mining is the issue of organization of a safe way to receive 4 million cubic meters of excavated material per year by one excavator ESh-10/70 from two railway end points. It is necessary to propose measures for safe work organization.

Construction of industrial roads in coal mining is carried out in conditions of unstable ground. There is a need for making more reliable roadbeds for industrial vehicles.

Sieving coal through sieves produces 0-25 mm class coal, which can be described as fine, with seed and pith. Methods for use of 0-25 class coal utilization are necessary, as well as ways of measuring their effectiveness.

When developing the first two benches, there are waterlogged areas with sandy loam and clayey rocks. These rocks are moistened due to the accumulation of water due to precipitation and melting snow in the lower part of the relief. Due to the waterlogged rocks, the advancement of the work front is complicated due to the impossibility of developing these benches by motor transport. The railway overburden was eliminated at the enterprise in 2013. It is necessary to develop a system for developing the first overburden benches taking into account the above conditions and the existing mining and transport equipment of the enterprise.

During the mining of the first two escarpments, there are overwatered areas with sandy and clayey rocks. These rocks become water logged as a result of water accumulation due to precipitation and snowmelt in the lower part of the terrain. Due too much moisture of rocks, the advancement of the work front becomes more difficult due to the impossibility to work these escarpments by motor vehicles. The railroad stripping was eliminated at the plant in 2013. It is necessary to develop a system of mining of the first overburden escarpments taking into account the above conditions and the existing mining and transportation equipment available at the plant.

Coal mining at Nikolskoye field is made complicated by a significant change in the thickness of strata, a large number of geological disturbances of different nature and large dip angles. The combination of these factors leads to an increase in ash content of mined coal (overburden clogging). It is necessary to develop a modern solution that will allow to sample pieces of stripping rock at the intermediate coal stockpile. It is necessary to reduce the ash content of coal before it reaches the preparation plant, thereby reducing the volume of transportation of overburden pieces in dump truck bodies.

Currently, practical skills training is not always possible for safe work practice due to a number of reasons. It is necessary to introduce methods of practical skills training with the help of digitalization tools.

To define a modern method of coal transportation from the intermediate warehouse of Nikolskoe coal deposit to Tugnuyskaya coal plant at a distance of 13.7 km. The annual volume of transportation is assumed to be 16.5 million tons per year.

About 30 million cubic meters of overburden with low thickness substandard coal seams (internal dumps) are located in the contour of the open pit field. Due to the presence of coal in the rock mass there are signs of local self-heating of dumps and smoke in the areas. It is necessary to develop a modern, effective and safe technology for localization and elimination of self-heating centers. It should be taken into account that at the moment the dumps are located on the balance coal reserves, and in the near future it is necessary to move them to the mined-out space.

During warm seasons, there is an acute problem of reducing the temperature of air entering the suction of compressor (turbo-compressor) machines. It is necessary to reduce the temperature of air entering the suction of compressor (turbo-compressor) machines by installing monoblock chillers.

At the moment the question on optimization of repair works at the expense of application of the newest technologies for restoration of worn out parts of the machinery (casings of pumps and compressors, shafts, etc. production of which is expensive and sometimes impossible) is open. The question of application of Russian-made composite materials for restoration of worn-out parts of the equipment should be worked out.

There is a problem of increasing the productivity of equipment by reducing the friction force in contact with the working medium. It is necessary to select materials for coating the working surfaces of the equipment to reduce the frictional force of the medium (e.g. water).

There is a problem of frequent failure and reduction of time between repairs of friction pairs of equipment (gears in gearboxes, bearing units) operating in severe conditions leading to increased wear. It is necessary to increase the inter-repair period, reduce the wear of friction pairs of equipment by introducing the composition of one-iodized copper to the lubricant.

In summer, in conditions of global warming and climate change, water cooling towers do not provide temperature reduction of the water cycle. In turn, heat-exchange equipment of workshops does not ensure the conduct of science and technology and workshops are forced to reduce the load on the main raw materials with a reduction in the output of marketable product. As a consequence, loss of profits occurs. It is necessary to develop a solution to reduce the temperature of water (flow rate from 200 to 1000 cubic meters per hour) to 7 degrees. Any options are acceptable, including mobile units with the lowest cost, except cooling towers.

In the process of transportation of porous ammonium nitrate (PAN) packed in FIBC under the influence of temperature changes in summer period modification transitions occur, associated with changes in the crystal lattice of ammonium nitrate granules, leading to partial destruction of granules, their sintering and loss of marketable properties of the product. As a consequence, there are claims from consumers. It is necessary to choose a material for transportation of PAN in p/v over long distances at high temperatures, with the following properties: ease of installation inside the p/v, light weight, heat insulation from external heating on the side of the p/v walls, low hygroscopicity, low cost.

During warm seasons, there is an acute issue of reducing the temperature of circulating water for cooling the units. It is necessary to reduce the temperature of the cooling circulating water by installing monoblock chillers.

Evaporators from “old” manufacturing over the years of operation have a number of defects both in mechanical part (breach of tightness of the equipment shell, failure of heat exchange tubes on the heater, material corrosion) and in design. These defects influence the efficiency of equipment operation (productivity, resource overconsumption) and the final product quality.

It Is necessary to develop a solution for the creation of an automated system of cleaning, washing the inner surface of mineral carriers analogous to automatic car washes for motor vehicles. Requirements to the solution are as follows:

removal of hard sediments on the inner surface;

ensuring cleanliness control;

logging and reporting into a database;

cleaning and disposal of effluent and solid waste;

reducing the time required to prepare rolling stock for loading;

minimization of manual labor;

eliminating human presence inside the mineral wagon;

maintenance of planned logistics and supply chains.

There is a problem of ammonium nitrate and CAN melt adhesion in the process of granulation on the inner surface of the drum-granulator. There arises the necessity to stop for cleaning once in 3 days, manual cleaning, presence of a person inside the machine, reduction of marketable product output. The task is to develop technical solutions (any proposals except for changes in technology), excluding the adhesion of ammonium nitrate and CAN melts on the inner surface of the drum-granulator (BGS) in the production process.

The problem of mineral fertilizer deposits on the inner surface of technological equipment (hoppers, product pipelines) is present. There is a task of selection of modern polymeric materials, coatings, methods of application and fastening for lining of internal inclined surfaces of hoppers during production and shipment of mineral fertilizers, mineral carriers, etc., in order to exclude formation of sediments, to exclude cleaning, to allow loading and unloading.

During the production of extractive phosphoric acid, calcium sulfate particles from phosphoric acid solutions are sedimented on the working acid and flushing pipelines, and the pipelines become clogged. Currently these pipelines are flushed with weak hydrogen silicicofluoric acid (HFC), flushing takes a long time.

Water pumped out from the flooded areas of the mine workings at the Chernogorsky and Abakansky open pit mine complicates stripping and mining operations. Water pumping leads to a decrease in production indicators for stripping and mining. It is necessary to propose options for utilization and disposal of water pumped out at watered areas of mine openings.

The first two ledges are overwatered with sandy and clayey rocks, these rocks are moistened due to water accumulation caused by precipitation and snow melt in the lower part of the relief. Due to the fact that these rocks are overmoistened, the advancement of the work front becomes more difficult due to the impossibility to work these ledges by motor vehicles, railway stripping was eliminated at the enterprise in 2013. It is necessary to develop a system for mining of the first stripping ledges taking into account the above conditions and available mining transportation equipment

Due to the high content of clay cement in the overburden of the Vostochno-Beisky open pit mine, during the period of heavy rains May through October, the transportation and operational performance of open pit roads is reduced. Due to overmoistening of the roadbed and subsequent sticking of clay mass on the wheels, traffic on the quarry roads is hampered and limited, which leads to downtime of mining transportation equipment. How to influence the quality of the roadbed, taking into account the clay cement content and regional climate conditions?

A platform for collecting suggestions from residents on the design of public spaces in the form of an interactive map, where one can draw routes to/from the area and leave comments on the desired contents of the space to be taken into account in the development of amenities projects.

Green space digitization platform: updated map of the settlement with markings of existing trees and bushes and information on their general health status

To develop a solution for recycling cigarette filters and reusing the material in the operation of 3D printers.

The system reports possible leak points and provides recommendations for improving energy efficiency for multifamily buildings.

The system of automatic recognition of promotional and informational signs on the facades of buildings and assessment of their compliance with the design code of the locality (assessment of sign size, use of fonts, coloristic solutions, elements of identity)

The system enables one to track the exceeding of parameters necessary for preserving the biodiversity of the green area (insects, rodents, larger animals that react differently than humans to warm/cold light, its intensity, noise intensity). The system can provide recommendations for adjusting lighting to approach normal values for animals and insects.