Tag Archives: Conveyors

Voith releases BeltGenius ERIC conveyor analysis system

Automation, Base metals, Bulk handling, Coal technology, Comminution of minerals, Communications in mining, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, ,

Voith Turbo, a specialist in intelligent drive solutions, systems and services, has released BeltGenius ERIC (Efficiency and Reliability Intelligent Control), a product allowing operators to test out how efficient their conveyor belt systems are.

The system analyses a range of continuous data from conveyor belts – including belt speed, belt tension, effective motor power for all drive motors, and temperature – to potentially allow operators to increase the productivity of their system, while also lowering energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

These parameters are then transmitted to a server at Voith, where a a digital twin of the system exists. All relevant information about the conveyor is stored here, such as belt length, belt width, the diameter of the carrying rollers, drive pulleys, return pulleys, the configuration of the transfer stations, the topography, and the trough angles.

Using this information, ERIC determines a “normalised efficiency value referenced to the energy consumption for horizontal material transport, known as the Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI)”, Voith said.

“This indicator allows the operator to see at a glance just how efficiently the particular belt conveyor is currently operating.”

The data is visualised on the client’s individual user interface, in the form of an online dashboard.

The normalisation makes it possible for the mine operator to easily compare all existing systems in terms of energy performance, according to the company.

Voith also offers the option of equipping individual belt segments with radio-frequency identificaion (RFID) chips. Less-efficient belts and system sections are easier to identify, and if necessary replace, by means of the interaction between the digital twin and the RFID.

“Thanks to its transparent display, BeltGenius ERIC provides a straightforward way to reduce energy consumption, and thus the operating costs, of mine operation,” Voith said.

At the same time, the digital twin compares the installed power to the energy actually being used. This allows the operator to identify power reserves, ensuring the existing capacities of the belt conveyor system are put to optimum use without jeopardising the safety of the system.

In the event of any significant deviation in the EnPI, BeltGenius ERIC sends a direct message to the operator. The operator, together with Voith, can then take action to prevent potential damage.

The system conforms to ISO 500001 and allows operators to achieve compliance with the latest global standards. The company said it has provided for the immediate future by linking into a comprehensive infrastructure for the monitoring of belt conveyor systems.

Alumbrera underground copper-gold mine to benefit from Rail-Veyor haulage

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, ,

The Alumbrera copper-gold mine in Argentina will soon be going underground and, with this, will come the installation of an electric Rail-Veyor haulage system, Goldcorp has confirmed.

Open-pit operations are due to cease at the end of this month, but during the most recent June quarter, the project partners (Glencore – 50%, Goldcorp – 37.5%, Yamana Gold – 12.5%) agreed on an underground extension of the mine.

The underground operation is set to start up in late-2019 and will be mined using the sub-level caving methodology, Goldcorp said earlier this week in its June quarter results.

The company added that an electric Rail-Veyor haulage system will be used to transport material to the “existing infrastructure, with the processing plant expected to process 20,000 tonnes per day over an expected 10-year mine life”.

The project is expected to be fully funded through Alumbrera’s operating cash flows.

Glencore is no stranger to Rail-Veyor technology having introduced South Africa’s first surface mine installation at the Eland platinum operation some years ago. Last year, Northam Platinum acquired Eland.

Rail-Veyor is an electrically powered series of two-wheeled interconnected mini rail cars that can operate 24/7 and travel along a light rail track at speeds up to 8 metres per second. The remote controlled Rail-Veyor technology is comprised of simple components that allow continuous material haulage without diesel emissions and with significantly less capital and maintenance costs than other options.

Fenner Dunlop wins Rio Tinto Pilbara conveyor contract

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mineral commodities, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore,

Fenner Dunlop is to provide Rio Tinto with conveyor maintenance services at its port operations in Western Australia.

The arrangement will see the conveyor manufacturer service all the conveyors at the Cape Lambert and Dampier ports. These, together, represent a significant portion of conveyors in the country, Fenner Dunlop said.

Rio’s Western Australia ports consist of four terminals, which saw 330.1 million tonnes of iron ore pass through them last year.

Earlier this month, Fenner Dunlop relocated its Port Hedland branch to Newman in Western Australia as it looked to get closer to the state’s major mines.

And, in line with the Rio award and to better support the major miner, a new Fenner Dunlop branch will be opening in Karratha.

Fenner Dunlop Chief Operating Officer Steve Abbott said the contract was expected to create more than 40 full-time jobs.

“The award of this contract is directly attributed to our focus on total conveyor performance, our leadership and training programmes and the excellent team we have in Western Australia. Rio Tinto and Fenner Dunlop see this as a longstanding partnership,” he said.

Now part of the Michelin Group of Companies, Fenner Dunlop has manufacturing plants in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and 16 branches nationally products and services from the design and supply of complete conveyor solutions through to service, installation, maintenance and diagnostics services.