Performance analysis of an improved temperature control scheme with cold stored in surrounding rock for underground refuge chamber

•An improved temperature control scheme was proposed for mine refuge chambers.•Ventilation with a rate of 300 m3/h can be cooled to 20 °C from 35 °C by ice storage unit.•The scheme is applicable to mine refuge chambers with an initial surrounding rock temperature of 35℃ or more.•During pre-cooling, temperature gradient of surrounding rock is related to ventilation but not to initial surrounding rock temperature.•The scheme is more economical when the surrounding rock temperature is cooled to below 32 °C.