CONVEYORS
During 2024 , Innomotics is expecting to commission three more gearless drive systems for conveyors at mines in Indonesia , Mongolia , and South Africa . This shows a previous installation in Peru
sliding on the belt when sheering at the hopper discharge and breaking of cakes from the filter press .
The system further considers sophisticated control philosophies related to filter discharge cycles and multiple feeder discharges to the single collection conveyor . The overall system is designed to prevent intermittent feed and overfilling of the collection conveyor to provide a consistent feed to the downstream stacking system . TNT has provided ongoing support to the client and their consultants through various study stages for stacking plan development to ensure a stacking system that meets the geotechnical requirements for a stable safe landform and provides an efficient dry stack tailings solution that reduces emissions , dust generation and life-of-mine costs .
Having completed a large EPC project at a large copper mine in Chile in 2020 which included a high capacity modular steel primary gyratory crushing station , an associated sacrificial conveyor , a 3.5 km overland conveyor and a modular course ore stockpile stacker , TNT
was awarded two further EPC projects in Chile .
The first of these projects is for the same client and includes a rehandling system for previously leached ore or ‘ ripios .’ This brownfield project is currently the final stages of construction . The scope includes a loading hopper , three belt feeders , several large in-plant conveyors modifications to two existing plant conveyors , earthworks , civil works , electrical systems and automation .
The second of these EPC projects was awarded to TNT and its joint venture construction partner Sigdo Koppers in 2023 at another large copper mine in Chile . The system is designed to crush and conveyor run-of-mine copper ore with a system capacity of 7,500 t / h and includes the primary crushing facility as well as a 6.3 km overland conveyor with elevated stacking head that feeds the coarse ore stockpile . The scope further includes all electrical substations , modular electrical rooms and automation . TNT is finalising detail engineering and progressing into procurement .
Innomotics ’ gearless leadership continues
Innomotics was created in 2023 from Siemens ’ Large Drives division , and is building on a 150- year history of technological innovation , and with eight factories on three continents and service staff located 49 countries , Innomotics can supply and support its customers where they are in the world .
Almost 40 years ago , it was the first company to build a gearless drive system for a mine conveyor system and it continues to be a groundbreaker in the field .
The company told IM : “ In one of our most recent projects , we commissioned a new gearless drive for the overland conveyor at Anglo American ’ s new Quellaveco copper mine in mountainous terrain in southern Peru . Developed with our partners at thyssenkrupp [ now FLSmidth ], the system can carry almost 130,000 t per day of ore from the open pit through a tunnel to the concentrator mill which lies more than four kilometres away in the next valley .” And during 2024 , the company is expecting to commission three more gearless drive systems for conveyors at mines in Indonesia , Mongolia , and South Africa .
Compared to the mix of high-speed motors and gearboxes used in conventional drive system for belt conveyor , the gearless drive offers multiple advantages . For example , as the size of the motor is no longer limited by the size of the gearbox , it is no longer necessary to install multimotor drives . With just one drive able to provide the required belt driving power on each drive pulley , the number of switchgear enclosure can be reduced , saving space and weight in the e- house . With fewer mechanical and electrical components , the system is more reliable – a key factor given annual maintenance work can cost up to 5 % of the original investment cost – while the efficiency is 3-4 % higher than in a conventional drive system .
“ Even greater efficiencies can be achieved by combining Innomotics ’ gearless drive systems with its expertise in conveyor mechanics and design . With new concepts such as step angle conveying or different conveyor designs , the conveyor length can be shortened and the number of drive stations reduced . This results in significant savings not only in capital expenditure but also operating costs as fewer components and drive stations mean less maintenance .”
IM
ABSOLUTE MATERIAL CONTROL
5000
successful chutes operating worldwide
ISO 9001:2015 + 27 ( 0 ) 11 827 9372 • info @ webachutes . com • www . webachutes . com
FEBRUARY 2024 | International Mining 63