IM 2016 November 2016 | Page 58

MOTORS AND DRIVES_proof 26/10/2016 09:43 Page 2 MOTORS AND DRIVES eliminating a conveyor’s gearbox reduces maintenance costs while increasing reliability. Other benefits are lower energy consumption and noise levels.” An ABB example illustrated how the GCD reduces operational costs. In a conveyor line of four flights with 12 drives in total and power of 1,000 kW/1,340 hp handling 8,800 t/h, the energy cost was 10 ct/kWh and gearbox efficiency 96% with annual operation time of 6,900 hours. A commercial trade off was simulated for the conveyor system. Major cost factors are electric energy, system maintenance, repair and loss of production. After 15 years, a mine would have saved about $12 million by using GCD. A return on investment can be expected after less than one year. Torque limiting in crushing When crushing mined rock and materials, uncrushable objects constitute a severe risk for the production process as well as the installed equipment. In order to limit torque load without disrupting operation, Voith recently designed its SlipSet coupling to temporarily slip in the event of an overload situation and thus act as a shock absorber. The company’s Coupling Monitoring System (CMS 310) offers further benefits by providing real time status information as well as performance analyses; displayed in a particular web interface, on a HMI panel or integrated in an already existing supervision system. “When getting stuck in the crushing chamber or between the rollers, too hard materials or too huge pieces cause the system to stop running. As the motor and the momentum of the driveline still deliver torque, the resulting overload overheats the motor or leads to the collapse of the driveline. To avoid cost-intensive repair works or downtime, belt drives can be replaced with direct drives protected by an integrated torque limiting coupling.” Voith SlipSet couplings consist of a twinwalled hollow sleeve with friction generated by pressurised hydraulic oil. In case of a torque peak which exceeds the preset torque limit, it will instantly slip and protect the equipment from high stresses. If the blockage persists, the coupling slips until the rotational energy is completely absorbed and the drive can be stopped to enable the blockage to be cleared. On a scale of 1 to 20,000 kNm the trigger point for slipping can be set at 50 to 100% of the maximum load. Due to its compact design, the SlipSet coupling is easily installed at the optimum position in the driveline. “As it separates the input torque from the output torque of the driveline, the slipping feature of the SlipSet coupling paves the way for a detailed monitoring of the coupling and the occurring forces around it. In order to increase product intelligence and enable nonstop performance supervision, Voith developed the PLC based Coupling Monitoring System CMS 310. It is based on the calculation of the torque limiting coupling input and output rotational positions. The measurements are made by inductive sensors mounted on each side. If the coupling slips, there will be a pulse difference between the sensors. The difference in relative position is recorded and recalculated to a slip angle in real time.” Once a slip occurs, the CMS informs the operator about the incident via a web interface or an optional HMI panel for closed systems. Dependi ng on the respective information, the operator can either adapt the power input, material feed or initiate a controlled shut down. This ensures the maximum output of the crusher since it helps the operator to align the motor power with the full capacity of the machine. The used Profinet communication standard Voith SlipSet couplings consist of a twin-walled hollow sleeve with friction generated by pressurised hydraulic oil makes it easy to individually integrate relevant data from the Voith CMS into existing supervision systems. WEG continues success in Middle East Specialised in providing solutions to the main market segments by supplying premium quality products and systems, the traditional global motor player WEG has been appointed the single supplier of all low and medium voltage induction motors for a new alumina refinery under construction in the UAE. This is the second WEG achievement in the Middle East aluminum industry after the successful supply and commissioning of all electric motors to Ma’aden Aluminum in Saudi Arabia, where again WEG was the sole supplier. Located in the aluminium cluster under development at the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), the new refinery is being developed by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and will be operated by its subsidiary, Al Taweelah Alumina. Phase I of the project will have a nameplate capacity of 2 Mt/y. EGA plans to double the capacity of Al Taweelah Alumina in Phase II. The refinery will extract aluminum oxide from mined bauxite. WEG has been selected as the single supplier of all low and medium voltage induction motors for the project for its engineering and project management expertise. EGA, which is jointly owned in equal shares by Mubadala Development Company of Abu Dhabi and Investment Corporation of Dubai, is one of the world’s five largest primary aluminium producers and also owns upstream assets. Power distribution safety Power management company Eaton displayed an expanded range of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical power management CareerMine Where Mining Finds Its People www.CareerMine.com Your international source for mining jobs Job Seekers Employers Over 15,000 active jobs worldwide: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Russian Over 67,000 active resumes worldwide: English, Spanish and Portuguese Hundreds of new jobs are posted daily by our dedicated global team. ‡ Search jobs ‡ Post your resume ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ Advertise your vacancies Search for candidates Become an Employer of Choice Learn about our Staffing Solutions InfoMine 54 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2016