Schneider Electric South Africa, has been commissioned by Harmony Gold Mining Company to upgrade the 106 level sub-vertical winder at its Doornkop mine outside Johannesburg.
According to Helgard Honiball, general manager of the Drives Competency Centre at Schneider Electric South Africa, the current winder control is a ‘PowerReg’ system, a slip-ring motor controller with resistor controls in steps.
“As the winder is an integral part of the emergency evacuation plan of the mine, the winder control system is critical. Schneider Electric South Africa will therefore optimise and upgrade the current control system to variable speed drive (VSD) control and replace the motor with a more efficient squirrel cage induction machine. Once upgraded, the VSD control will run at a unity input power factor, irrespective of the load on the motor, improving overall system efficiency. Furthermore, it will also be able to run from a backup diesel generator,” he says.
The project, to be completed by fourth quarter 2011, requires Schneider Electric South Africa to design, supply and install the winder control system upgrade. “We have a great deal of expertise in replacing systems with VSDs and Schneider Electric South Africa’s established installed base as well as superior technology proved to be a firm motivation in Harmony selecting us to realise this upgrade project,” concludes Honiball.
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