Minghan Xu

The minerals and metals industry plays a crucial role in Canada's economy. However, the future demands advanced and sustainable mining practices, especially in the pristine and challenging landscapes of Canada's northern regions. There are two major concerns facing the research and industrial communities: 1) When the air temperature falls below freezing point, air heating is required to prevent shafts from freezing. How can we use renewable energy sources to satisfy this energy-intensive heating requirement in the Arctic environment? 2) Due to climate change, warmer temperatures cause the permafrost to thaw and degrade, leading to the collapse and failure of mining infrastructure. How can we enhance the ground stability by protecting permafrost from thawing in the northern regions?

To address these challenges, I first aim to drive innovation in spray-freezing technology as a viable alternative to fossil fuels for heating and cooling mines in Northern Canada. This involves developing a comprehensive framework that considers various factors like computationally efficient modelling, multi-scale analysis, and multi-physics aspects. Then, I plan to design and implement a renewable ground-freezing system for Canadian mines in the North. This system will integrate a passive heat exchanger with energy storage devices. This system aims to extract and store cold energy during the winter, which can then be utilized to maintain permafrost freezing throughout the year. Consequently, the two energy systems will serve as mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change in northern Canada, which can also be adopted in other Arctic regions, such as Alaska and Greenland. My research program seeks to contribute to developing sustainable mining energy systems in Canada's north, thus promoting the decarbonization of the mining industry for a cleaner future.