DRIVES & CONTROLS
Siemens ' technology leadership for mobile mining
Over the past 40 years , Siemens has partnered with leading OEMs to pioneer the implementation of the AC electric drive system for mobile mining equipment , which has now become the industry standard . Siemens Industry Business Development Manager Daniel Robertson told IM : " Since entering the haul truck market over 25 years ago , Siemens technology leadership , based on our strength in engineering , understanding of the market needs , and expertise in efficiency , has led to numerous innovations that are now encapsulated in Siemens fourth generation AC electric drive system ."
Siemens offers a broad portfolio and a desire to work closely with its OEM partners to design unique solutions , which it believes provide differentiation from its competition .
“ Siemens converters , comprised of modular liquid cooled IGBT building blocks , facilitate the creation of standard low-cost solutions , as well as feature rich customer specific solutions that cover haul truck size classes from 240-500 tons . Siemens best-in-class traction wheel motors offer a patented cooling design that enables the highest power density in the spaceconstrained wheel axle , which results in higher speed on grade .”
Software features , such as pre-shift brake test , service brake blending , slip-slide control , hill start , anti-roll , propel / retard cruise control with speed limiting , and limp mode it says provide unparalleled safety and ease of operation .
“ Independent auxiliary cooling systems , a standard design on all Siemens electric drive systems for 25 years , have set a new benchmark for energy efficiency . By decoupling the cooling system from the engine , the engine speed can be reduced , idled , or even switched off without affecting the cooling capability . This feature reduces fuel consumption and increases the engine lifetime .”
Siemens also has the largest trolley assist mine truck system installed base and is the only supplier that can provide a turnkey trolley solution . " We offer the off-board trolley infrastructure , as well as the onboard electric drive system . Detailed knowledge exchange and coordination allows Siemens to greatly reduce the complexity involved during design , installation and operation , which results in faster implementation and higher availability . In addition , up to 30 % fuel savings are achieved as the engine idles while the truck simultaneously propels on grade at speeds up to 200 % of the speed capable from the engine alone . With Siemens onboard step-down option , trolley trucks can operate on either 1.8kV or 2.4kV trolley lines .
“ The investments from our past will pave the way to the future . Siemens patented combination of off-board trolley with on-board energy storage makes the zero emissions haul truck a possibility today . Higher efficiency is gained with the elimination of the diesel engine as well as the gridbox , as electrical braking energy can be captured with on-board energy storage . As the market looks to renewables for energy independence , this technology would enable clean power to be distributed throughout the plant and pit , right down to the electric drive system of the haul trucks .
Q Looking at the major markets for mining drives , are there any areas where WEG has traditionally focused and does each market area come with its own challenges ? A Being aware of the specific requirements each market segment requires and upon evaluation of the mining segment in different countries as well as our experience of dealing with different segments , WEG ’ s focus is concentrated on crushing , conveying and comminution applications ( crushers , mills , pumps and flotation ). All of them need reliable power from electric motors and gears . The company also keeps its big picture mine power infrastructure focus covering complete electrical solutions , from the grid to the smallest motors passing through main substations , transformers , E-houses , distribution panels , MCCs and variable speed drives . WEG has had extensive experience supplying E-houses for the mining industry using cutting edge technology for the construction , assembly and logistics . We also offer specific built-in firmware in MV VSDs which is dedicated and customised for HPGRs and ball / SAG mills .
Q What is the WEG differentiator to customers when competing with other majors in terms of technology , service , performance etc ? A The WEG business strategy during its 59 years of activity has always been based on designing quality products and solutions and offering prompt service to allow mining customers to expand and grow their business as well . To turn these principles into practice , the company have been putting big efforts on designing products and solutions to meet customer requirements in all countries where WEG does business . This flexibility is supported internally by a vertically integrated policy . In other words , WEG takes care of all necessary components in order to speed up the project delivery to mining customers . To provide prompt service to customers at the speed they need , WEG has implemented a global structure with its own operations ( commercial and industrial branches ) in all the main mining markets , in addition to a global network of qualified repair shops .
Q What is next in the mining drives market in terms of technology - greater digital control and optimisation based on real time power demand from the drives ? A The speed of the drive industry development is very high . Technology has become an important portion of the offerings of big global mining drive players in
WEG 7 MW , variable-speed-drive motor on one of the ball mills at the Ivanhoe / Zijin Kamoa-Kakula copper project in DRC
terms of stand-alone products and solutions . The industry today requires much more than just equipment ( hardware ). Data is required , connectivity is required , monitoring is required , remote repairs are required . We must find ways to meet all those requirements . For example , WEG has launched a powerful tool that allows online monitoring of Low Voltage and Medium Voltage motors and inverters ( Variable Speed Drives ). In addition to online monitoring , WEG software also has specialist modules that , through AI and Machine Learning , determine the most likely causes of some abnormal conditions of operation of the equipment as well as providing customers with information about the prediction of failures that may occur . The " WEG Motor Fleet Management " software also has modern geolocation features that facilitate the location of assets , even in multilevel plants . Supporting teams and maintenance managers , WEG ' s tool still has an interface for registration and management of events such as alarms and maintenance tasks allowing users to generate KPIs and reports on monitored assets . WEG Motor Fleet Management also has Exchange modules that allow the integration , via API , of the analytics of the monitored drive assets with other mine management systems .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 | International Mining 71