Technology and innovation
Wheel loader remains cool
HPE Africa’s HL780-9S wheel loader, which is
being used by Vanalls Plant Hire at a smelter
in Witbank to break up and transport silica
manganese, is coping efficiently in extremely
harsh conditions.
A wheel loader that was
acquired by a smelter in the
Witbank area is outperforming
all expectations. The Hyundai
HL780-9S was bought by
Vanalls Plant Hire at the end
of 2016 and with 6 000 hours
on the clock, it continues
performing, using an average of
only 22 litres of fuel per hour.
According to Alex Ackron,
managing director at HPE
Africa, the distributor of
Hyundai in southern Africa, this
wheel loader is used to break
layered cast silica manganese
from the prepared beds into
smaller pieces and transport this
high-temperature material to
a cooling pad. “For enhanced
performance, improved traction,
and tyre protection, the
HL780-9S has been fitted with
durable tyre chains,” says Ackron.
Alphamin Resources’ remote Bisie tin
mine is being supplied with fit-for-
purpose dry-type transformers by Trafo
Power Solutions in a fast-track project
that will see the complete solution
manufactured in just 12 weeks.
Bisie’s location, which is about
160km north-east of Goma in
the North Kivu Province of the
Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), places constraints on the
transformers’ installation, which
have been considered in their careful
selection and design.
“With a very difficult access
road to the mining operation, the
substation and transformers have
been custom-designed to withstand
the many stresses expected during
transport,” says David Claassen,
managing director at Johannesburg-
based Trafo Power Solutions. To deal
with the extreme heat and humidity
of over 90%, Trafo has designed the
ventilation and airflow in-house.
The delivery will involve the
movement of two 3 000kVA, 400V /
11kV cast resin transformers housed
in six-metre-high cube containers.
The consignment will also include
the ventilation systems, lighting,
and small power equipment. These
transformers will be used for stepping
up the supply from a diesel-powered
generator plant, from 400V to 11kV,
to feed the mine.
[38] MINING MIRROR APRIL 2018
The project scope also
includes two 100kVA,
400V / 400V Dyn11 dry-
type lighting transformers
for application outdoors.
“The design of these
dry-type transformers
makes them suitable
for the climatic
conditions at the mine,”
says Claassen. “They
require only a minimal
movement of air across
the windings to cool
them down, although
forced air options can
also be employed where
necessary if ambient
temperatures rise high
enough.”
The higher efficiency
of the cast resin design
means that heat losses
are lower, along with
cooling requirements. This
David Claassen, managing director
efficiency also reduces the
of Trafo Power Solutions.
energy consumed by these
regular maintenance, including oil
transformers and hence,
sample analysis to ensure operational
will reduce diesel consumption in this
consistency and safety.”
application.
With no oil required as a coolant,
“An important advantage in this
the dry-type transformer is simple, safe,
remote location is that dry-type
and installable indoors without the need
transformers are almost maintenance-
for its own civils infrastructure, such
free and could last for 25 years without
as bund walls and structures, to ensure
significant attention,” says Claassen.
safety and environmental protection.
“Oil-filled transformers require
Dry transformers headed for DRC