Some of Johannesburg’s old gold mines are to be rejuvenated by a new reclamation process to be implemented on dumps long thought to be drained of recoverable gold.
At the forefront of the refurbishment of the old ERGO mine at Vulcania near Springs, will be a brand new control room and Hitachi EH 150 PLC with fast EHV CPU processor, supplied by Gauteng company Elquip Solutions.
Elquip Solutions’ technical sales manager, Gustav Verster, says the Hitachi system was chosen for several reasons: “Hitachi PLCs are cost-effective and reliable, and the Hitachi methodology suited the client’s way of working. In addition, the brand came highly recommended by previous customers known to the client. The system CPU offers USB, serial and open Ethernet communication, and interfaces with the Hitachi Profibus IO, making communication and integration simpler.”
Hitachi EH-150 EHV PLCs allow all information to be stored, rapidly analysed, and then processed by forwarding either to the user or to higher-level devices. The larger memory and 32 bit Risc processor have been exclusively developed by Hitachi, providing both the speed (20 ns per binary instruction) and the capacity (up to 128 K steps and up to 1 MByte of memory) for full control of automation solutions.
The ERGO mine installation currently in process is the smallest, and the first of several, with three or four more plants still to be refurbished on the same site.
Elquip Solutions’ MD, Mike Cronin, adds: “Although the first phase was awarded at the end of May 2008, and was scheduled to come on line towards the end of last year, completion of all phases is expected to be a fairly lengthy process. Although DRD are using existing mechanical mine equipment where possible, the Profibus evolution and the advances in Hitachi control systems technology will deliver superior results to the existing control equipment at the mine.”
Crown Gold Recoveries project manager, Michael Fenenga, states: “A similar Hitachi system was already under installation on a project at a mine in Germiston. So, when Adroit Technologies recommended this control system, we investigated it and were pleased with its adaptability and integration capacity. The projected effective working life, up to 10 years, was an added bonus.”
Return-on-investment is expected to be rapid once the plant is in operation, due to the significant increase in the gold recovery rate.
In line with Elquip Solution’s policy of training and knowledge transfer to clients, experts from parent company Hitachi Germany flew in to South Africa to assist with the initial integration and with training. A week-long training session, held in June, familiarised the end-users and plant engineers with the new technology. This was very well received by the client.
“Nothing succeeds like success, and previous Hitachi installations are now allowing the range to develop an excellent reputation in the South African market. Cost-effective, user-friendly and well supported by Elquip’s skilled service and spares back-up, Hitachi PLCs are the route to complete control,” concludes Cronin.
For more information contact Mike Cronin, Elquip Solutions, +27 (0)11 826 7117, mike@elquip.co.za, www.elquip.co.za
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