IPCC
truck transport . Claus Butter , LHB Technical Director told IM : " With a conservative approach , the use of an IBEX system will significantly reduce the mine OPEX as in this study ."
Even if multiple drives fail simultaneously , the power reserves and the redundancy behaviour can ensure operation without a reduction in conveying capacity . The replacement of individual drives is carried out with the help of a special maintenance trolley and therefore requires only short downtimes . “ The modular design reduces belt tension and allows the use of lightweight steel cord belts and unlimited extension of the conveyor as the mine depth increases . This concept results in significant cost savings reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions .”
IM
LHB ' s IBEX vision for high angle conveying
drives and thus greatly reduce the transmittable power . “ This problem does not occur with the IBEX system due to the geared driving track . Along the length of engagement , the drive belt is supported by idlers . This enables clean tooth meshing and reduces the relative movements that cause wear . To prevent the material from rolling-back in steep-angle operation ( up to 70 °), sidewalls and cleats are attached to the carry side of the belt .”
The IBEX system LHB says enables the continuous transport of ore and overburden . Due to the modular design , the transport can take place directly over the slope . “ Compared to conventional ramp conveyors , steep-angle conveying offers the advantage that the height difference can be overcome by the shortest route and no long ramps have to be constructed . In deep deposits , it is possible to transport the material to the surface through a tunnel . However , this entails enormous infrastructure costs and , due to the low incline , also leads to very long haulage distances . In an IPCC mine with an integrated IBEX-conveyor the material is crushed after mining and then transported directly over the slope out of the mine . At the surface , the material is transferred to a conventional conveyor belt .”
In a case study , the investment and operating costs for a mine were determined . In the considered mine 30 trucks with a payload capacity of 290 tons currently have to transport 6,500 tons of ore per hour over a height of 470 m . The implementation of a steep-angle conveyor allows material to be transported over the 45 ° steep slope of the open pit while maintaining the same haulage capacity . An IBEX system with 17 drive units with a total installed power of 12,000 kW and a 2,000 mm wide ST- 2000 sidewall belt can thus completely replace
MAY 2021 | International Mining 43