RANA Mine Refuge Systems - Breathable Air Units and Mobile Refuge Chambers

Mine accidents may occur any time and without warning. RANA’s compact units provide portable, self-contained, safe and reliable emergency air sources. RANA manufactures two units: the Refuge One Air Centre and the Tommyknocker Mine Refuge Chamber.

The Refuge One Air Centre supplies reliable, breathable air during an underground emergency. Refuge One Air Centres are compact, sturdy, easy to operate and can work independently of the mine’s power or compressed air.

The Tommyknocker Mine Refuge Chamber is a sturdy, easily relocated and self-contained station. The included Refuge One Air Centre makes the Tommyknocker a complete mine refuge system.

THE REFUGE ONE AIR CENTRE

RANA developed the Refuge One Air Centre 12 years ago when a group of Canadian miners were trapped underground after a serious mine accident, which also cut off the compressed air and mine power.

The award-winning Refuge One Air Centre is now installed in over 70 locations worldwide, providing breathable air to both permanent refuge stations and mobile units, such as our Tommyknocker.

The Refuge One Air Centre has been awarded USA’s R&D Award for Significant Technology and Canada’s Occupational Safety Award of Excellence.

MAINTAINS OXYGEN SUPPLY

The Refuge One Air Centre maintains breathable air. Dangerous air quality results when carbon dioxide levels in sealed refuge chambers rise and oxygen levels decrease. The Refuge One Air Centre absorbs carbon dioxide and regulates oxygen in the chamber to provide breathable air.

The self-contained Refuge One Air Centre independently maintains breathable air saving lives if the compressed air pipelines or external electrical sources are disrupted in an emergency. Storing additional kegs of soda lime and oxygen cylinders in the refuge chamber can extend the duration of life-support.

SELF-POWERED

The Refuge One Air Centre is independently powered, when mine power is lost,operating on internal batteries for at least 36 hours.

The Refuge One Air Centre controls were designed for use by operators under stress. Two Canadian Government agencies tested it underground as a proven method of maintaining the desired environment within the refuge station.

The affordable Refuge One Air Centre is available in two durable sizes, which can be combined to fit all your breathable air needs.

THE TOMMYKNOCKER MINE REFUGE CHAMBER

RANA builds, supplies and services our mobile mining refuge chamber (station), The Tommyknocker. The sturdy, self-contained and portable Tommyknocker comes equipped with a Refuge One Air Centre, which sustains life for at least 36 hours if miners are trapped underground, even without external air and power.

PORTABLE MINE REFUGE

The Tommyknocker is built with four laser-cut lifting lugs to get it down the shaft and on skids for easy relocation. The standard dimensions of the Tommyknocker are 7.5ft wide, 7ft high and 14ft long. The standard Tommyknocker supports 10 people. However, additional 4ft long sections accommodate 4-5 extra people each.

SELF-CONTAINED EMERGENCY STATION

The layout of the Tommyknocker units is designed to optimize safety. Each base unit has two sealed rooms. One room serves as an air lock, toilet and storage room, while the second contains padded benches, hinged for storage, and a Refuge One Air Centre.

Each unit is constructed of sandblasted, epoxy-primed and urethane painted 12-gauge steel. Solid steel walls with sealed doors divide rooms.

Additional options include a hook-up to the mine’s compressed air supply as well as a DC powered air conditioner. The mine can connect the Tommyknocker to its compressed air supply. The air is filtered and pressure reduced upon entering the chamber. In addition, a muffler reduces the noise of the air entering the chamber.

RANA’s air conditioners are DC powered (if mine power is lost). This is an advantage over AC powered conditioners in that it does away with large inverters allowing for longer battery power.

The standard Tommyknocker’s charger inputs are 120V AC, 60Hz and it has 12V DC outputs, but other voltages and frequencies are available.