and hoist power. Each time the crowd
is actuated to correct this impending
stall condition, a full fatigue cycle is
exerted on the boom, ropes, sticks and
body. This can lead to excess rope
wear, boom and dipper stress-fractures
and early motor failure. These
conditions also manifest into reduced
shovel cycle time.
Resolution
The Freedom Platform monitors these
stresses in real-time and dynamically
delivers increased hoist motor torque
when favourable dig conditions allow
(Figure 2). This is typically low in the
bank where the shovel is structurally
at its strongest point.
How does it work?
Freedom uses an open architecture
software that monitors shovel stresses
and electrical system parameters to
provide adaptive controls. Hoist
torque is increased only when dig
conditions allow. By using Flanders
crowd motor, which provides an
increased available stall current of up
to 50% (when properly equipped)
over the OEM motor, the operator is
able to enter the bank with more
torque, fill the dipper early in the dig
cycle, low in the bank. The open
architecture software design allows
the drive setting to be modified so it
is able to work in unique mine dig
conditions.
What equipment is
required?
Flanders’ Freedom upgrade includes
four critical components:
1.
Flanders exclusive optimised bank
performance ‘OBP’.
2.
Freedom control system, including
PLC software upgrade and ABB
DCS800 drive.
3.
Flanders enhanced crowd motor.
4.
Flanders enhanced hoist motors
(optional).
Freedom control system
The DCS800 drive is state-of-the-art
technology, which reassures customers
it will provide reliability and support
them for years to come. Flanders
open-architecture provides the option
to choose either Flanders or existing
OEM hoist motor.
Crowd motor
The Freedom upgrade incorporates the
improved reliability and performance
of Flanders’ designed M21 and F22
crowd motors. These motors fit in the
same footprint as competitive crowd
motors and boast increased available
stall current of up to 50% (when
properly equipped). This translates to
more allowable torque low in the bank
and ultimately faster cycle times.
Figure 1. Productivity gains (short t/sec.).
Figure 2. Freedom Level 3 components.
46
|
World Coal
|
January 2016
