The potash industry continues to face evolving environmental requirements, safety challenges, and economic pressures. In this dynamic landscape, trusted partnerships, proven technologies, and dependable service are essential for maintaining operational excellence and long-term competitiveness.
For more than 60 years, Inproheat Industries has built its reputation on trust, expertise, and innovation. At the heart of the company’s success is its proprietary Submerged Combustion (SubCom®) technology, used in direct-fired heaters and evaporators. Purpose-built to help potash producers improve efficiency, reduce operating costs, and support sustainable growth, SubCom® technology has delivered proven results across a wide range of mining applications.
SubCom® systems provide significant advantages in solution mining, process-water heating, crystallization, and reagent production. The technology operates by burning fuel within a direct-fired combustion chamber submerged beneath the surface of a process liquid or slurry. Since there are no solid heat-transfer surfaces, combustion gases come into direct contact with the process medium, enabling highly efficient, no-fouling heat transfer and maximizing energy utilization.
In potash applications, SubCom® direct-fired heaters can achieve thermal efficiencies exceeding 99 per cent (HHV basis), making them highly effective for corrosive and fouling liquids, abrasive slurries, and fluids containing high concentrations of suspended or dissolved solids. SubCom® systems are also configurable for heat recovery and water conservation, further improving operating efficiency.
Engineered for long service life and minimal maintenance, SubCom® heaters resist fouling, reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions, and provide high turndown capability for operational flexibility. Compliance with CEN, FM, NFPA, and CSA standards supports safe and reliable operation, while remote monitoring and control capabilities can eliminate the need for boiler operator certification in many applications.
For decades, Inproheat has partnered with leading potash producers to deliver measurable results through innovative engineering, dependable equipment, and responsive customer support.
One notable example is the Patience Lake operation in Saskatchewan. When the Potash Corporation of America converted the site from a conventional underground mine to a solution mining operation, Inproheat supplied a 10-burner SubCom® system with a total heat input of 130 MMBtu/h. Integrated into a floating tank structure and commissioned in 1990, the system increased thermal heating efficiency to 98 per cent. The project’s success earned Potash Corporation of America a Canadian Gas Association Award in 1991 for its innovative application of natural-gas technology.
Inproheat has maintained a close relationship with the mine’s successive operators—first Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, and today, Nutrien—by optimizing the system as requirements have evolved. In 2011, the facility underwent a major modernization that added four burners, increased heat input capacity, upgraded control systems, and incorporated new modular fuel trains. After almost 35 years in service, in 2025, Inproheat developed custom replacement burners to extend system life while preserving performance and minimizing capital expenditures.
Inproheat has delivered similar results at Compass Minerals’ Sulphate of Potash operation in Ogden, Utah. When the site’s package boiler system began increasing operating costs, Compass Minerals turned to Inproheat for a more efficient solution. In 2014, Inproheat supplied a 30 MMBtu/h SubCom® unit for process-water heating. Building on the success of that installation, the company later engineered and supplied a 60 MMBtu/h heating system that increased hot-water production capacity and improved overall process efficiency. This proved the long-term reliability and performance of SubCom® technology.
Inproheat’s expertise extends beyond equipment supply to collaborative project development with engineering firms and technology partners. A strong example is Western Potash Corporation’s Milestone Project near Regina, Saskatchewan.
During Phase 1 planning in 2018, SNC-Lavalin engaged Inproheat to design a specialized heating system capable of handling corrosive brine service, elevated operating temperatures, high thermal-efficiency requirements, and strict environmental standards. To meet these objectives, Inproheat engineered a three-burner SubCom® system with a gross heat input of 51 MMBtu/h, designed to heat brine to 82°C while achieving thermal efficiencies exceeding 90 per cent (HHV basis).
Integrated with a Sigma Thermal glycol heater and a Tranter titanium plate-and-frame heat exchanger, the solution successfully delivered the temperatures required for solution mining operations. A specialized hot-brine centrifugal pump circulated fluid through the system, ensuring efficient heat transfer throughout the process. Solution mining operations commenced in 2020, demonstrating the effectiveness of the integrated heating solution.
Although the Milestone Project is currently inactive, it highlights Inproheat’s engineering capabilities, collaborative approach, and commitment to solving complex challenges in the mining sector.
Today, SubCom® direct-fired heaters and evaporators continue to help potash producers improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, enhance reliability, and maximize long-term performance in demanding operating environments.
As the potash industry evolves, producers need partners that combine proven technology with practical experience. Inproheat remains committed to helping mining operations meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.
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