LKAB has awarded ABB a contract to install two ABB gearless conveyor drives (GCDs) on the existing conveyor belt system at its Malmberget mine in Sweden.
The existing setup already carries up to 15 million tons of iron ore every year, but uses a 2800 kW wound rotor induction motor (WRIM) with gearbox to drive the conveyor. It will be replaced with ABB’s latest GCD technology, two 1600 kW models with permanent magnet motors (PMMs), to enable an increase in annual production while lowering energy use.
ABB’s installation engineers and project management team face the challenge of working in a tight space at around 1250 metres underground to remove the large equipment and replace it with the new units. Once the upgrade is complete in 2025, LKAB will be able to achieve energy efficiency savings of between 6 and 10%, which will translate to considerable OPEX savings per year.
ABB’s GCDs have a motor power of between 0,2 and 8 MW, removing the need for a gearbox, and thereby lowering maintenance costs while improving overall reliability and leading to greater uptime. A unique ABB innovation, they are known to be the most energy-efficient conveyor drive solution.
“We are managing the largest iron ore mines in Europe where productivity must remain high while energy efficiency increases,” said Pär Sundqvist, engineer and project owner at LKAB. “This important upgrade will improve the throughput on the conveyor and help us to meet our energy targets. ABB’s technology will also reduce both OPEX per ton and ongoing lifecycle costs.”
“The new ABB equipment will allow for an improved working environment in the mine – cleaner and safer,” said ABB Product Manager, Ulf Richter. “Gearless conveyor drives are known to be the most energy-efficient solution for conveyors, enabling reliable transportation of ore. The upgrade also means reduced noise and heat in the conveyor drive area.”
The GCD’s PMMs are directly coupled to the existing conveyor’s drive pulley, and can also be adapted to meet the particular demands of this underground installation. The main advantages are energy savings, health and safety improvements, reduced maintenance costs, and steady, solid production due to higher reliability.
ABB was awarded the project contract in the third quarter of 2023 and the installation will take place during scheduled maintenance stops, with the final commissioning due in August 2025.
The opportunity and impact of MEPS electric motor regulations WEG Africa
Motion Control & Drives
South African companies are gearing up for the new Minimum Energy Performance Standards, part of a global trend towards energy-efficient electric motors.
Read more...Power meets precision
Motion Control & Drives
Swiss drive technology specialist, maxon is presenting the second generation of its compact mid-motor for e-bikes, the BIKEDRIVE AIR S. This new system delivers a high torque of 90 Nm with a motor weight of two kilograms.
Read more...Referro Systems expands local market
Motion Control & Drives
Referro Systems has achieved notable growth since introducing Advanced Micro Controls (AMCI) products into the African market.
Read more...Control solution for highly dynamic.
Motion Control & Drives
The motion control specialist, Aerotech is expanding its Auto-mation1-iSMC control solution with a powerful feature for highly dynamic laser drilling with galvo scanners.
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE energy audits help farmers drive down irrigation costs
Motion Control & Drives
SEW-EURODRIVE is expanding its support to South Africa’s agricultural sector by leveraging its world class expertise in energy audits for drive systems, helping farmers unlock cost savings and improve operational efficiencies in irrigation applications.
Read more...Smart automated lubrication SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
A leading customer of SKF in Tunisia’s paper and pulp industry was facing significant challenges with the manual lubrication of its paper machine. SKF had the solution.
Read more...Driving heavy equipment industry
Motion Control & Drives
Cimolai Technology, a leader in the design, production and installation of lifting and handling equipment, has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software. This move aims to deliver innovative, reliable and custom-made solutions to meet the most demanding technical specifications across sectors such as shipyards, infrastructure and heavy industry.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version