IM 2018 February 18 | Page 52

Chevron-MegaPipe ® IPCC in combination with steep-angle conveying systems – an ideal opportunity for more efficient haulage in open-pit mines. Up to the mid-term life of a hard rock open-pit mine haul-truck fleets offer the significant advantages of relatively low initial capital costs, redundancy and flexibility. But when a pit has reached a certain depth, the increasing costs of truck haulage will inevitably lead mine operators to start searching for alternatives. A stationary pipe conveyor system linked to a crusher station at the bottom of the mine is just such an alternative solution – and in fact offers many advantages. The tail station (tension station) is based at the bottom and the head station (drive station) is located at the rim of the open pit. Depending on the inclination, the conveyor bridges are mounted perpendicular to the benches of the open-pit mine. An inclination of up to 40° is possible and a service cab driven by a rope winch is provided for maintenance and inspection along the structure. What’s more, the Chevron-MegaPipe ® steep-angle conveying system can also be designed for large-scale conveyance applications. The system’s key components are the world’s largest and heaviest profiled pipe belt, which was developed by ContiTech with a max. diameter of 900 mm, a width of 3,200 mm and a strength of 7,500 N/mm, and the innovative DirectDrive ® concept from Siemens. These drives come in a proven design with installations of 6 MW. The Chevron-MegaPipe ® steep-angle conveying system brings numerous benefits: • System inclination angles of up to 40° • Conveying capacity of up to 8,000 t/h • Material: pre-crushed ores, coal or overburden with a grain size of up to 350 mm • Mine depth of up to 500 m • Vertical and horizontal conveying curves possible • Fewer heavy-duty trucks required • System fully operational in inclement weather conditions (e.g. fog, snow or rain) • Extensive automation of conveying system possible • Significant minimization of noise, dust and CO 2 emissions • Reduction of operational, personnel and investment costs (capex/opex) If you require any more information about this advantageous solution, simply get in touch: info-mh@thyssenkrupp.com Pipe section Crusher station Tail station Service cab Head station