HIGH PROFILE
shovels are now equipped with AC rather than DC
drives as they offer better performance/higher
eficiency and a lower failure rate. The power factor
for an AC drive is 0.96% relative to DC at 0.9%. The
company works with both ABB and Siemens with
the choice down to the customer, which is
sometimes related to whether there is a local service
centre in the country where the mine is located. All
the programming of the drives is done by TYHI in-
house.
Another new technology addition is an anti-
impact system that prevents the dipper door
impacting with the boom or the crawler track shoes
during operation. The system monitors the dipper
position in real time and compares it with the
shovel swing movements. A payload monitoring
system is also offered that analyses the forces
being applied to the dipper with additional sensors
as a second check. TYHI shovels also have a tooth
monitoring system which is camera-based but can
distinguish between teeth and rock material. one year warranty is
typical during which
period TYHI addresses
operational issues free of
charge including any new
parts that are needed.
IM asked TYHI why
mining customers like its
WK shovels and why it
has been the most
successful Chinese
mining equipment OEM
to date outside of China:
“The motors we use are
very reliable, and don’t
need much maintenance for almost 25,000 hours.
This motor was designed in-house by us but
manufactured by our partner in China. We have
proven that these motors require less servicing
than those on competitor shovels. We have also
been told that the WK machines have a lower initial
A key export milestone was the delivery of a
WK-55 shovel to Anglo American’s
Mogalakwena platinum operation cost as well as a lower
service and maintenance
cost, despite having the
same or better
performance.” Reliability,
high transmission
efficiency and low power
consumption are also
emphasised.
In design terms, the
shovels use gear rack
crowding for powerful
penetration of the
muckpile and high
efficiency. The
transmission gears are
carburised to increase
surface hardness and
lifetime. The propel
mechanism uses
planetary reducers and a
higher position drive to
improve cycle life. Air
release spring set disc
brakes are used.
The company has also
made an effort to adapt
its machine to mining
conditions. For the
mentioned Julong Copper
Finally, a parts and consumables health monitoring
system looks at critical parts to allow decisions on
whether they can keep working with only a minor
service to further increase shovel availability.
Overall, the company offers a review with mining
customers every six months or every year to assess
the shovel and make up to date service
recommendations, especially taking current
working conditions into account. Machine
condition monitoring means TYHI can also produce
daily, weekly and monthly machine condition
reports with recommendations.
In production terms, TYHI guarantees from
25,000 to 30,000 hours until first major service
depending on the working conditions. Following
delivery, TYHI sends a team of 20 service engineers
and technicians to work with the customer during
the assembly and commissioning period, with the
customer providing ancillary lifting, special tools,
nitrogen etc. Following the machine commissioning,
TYHI staff provide operator training for a period of
two weeks. TYHI staff as well as customers can
also train on TYHI’s shovel simulator at the factory,
supplied by China’s SIEI.
In terms of the ongoing maintenance and
service of the shovels, sometimes mines have their
own team and sometimes they use contractors. A
Russia is the largest export market to date, with
24 large shovels and counting and customers
including Polyus Gold (one of whose machines is
pictured), KRU and Metalloinvest
Qulong and Zhibula copper mines in Chinese Tibet,
which are at over 5,300 m altitude, TYHI supplied
pressurised cabs on shovels for easier breathing
conditions for operators. These high altitude
machines also have an anti-lightning system. For
cold climates, such as machines in Russia working
down to temperatures of -60°C there are special
mechanical adaptations, such as use of different
steel grades, isolation systems and heaters for
lubrication feeds. IM
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International
Rock Drilling Tools
Wilsonville, Oregon USA
Tel +1 (503) 682-1001
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Judenburg, Austria
Tel +43 3572-86300
[email protected]
NOVEMBER 2019 | International Mining 25