Reduction in unscheduled down-times in motors – thanks to the early detection emerging risks (prediction of maintenance requirements) – can be identified through digital drive monitoring. Ultimately, increased equipment availability translates into enhanced productivity. Productivity gains from various processes cumulatively increase a mining operation’s revenue (the benefits can be reflected on the bottomline)
The conventional status-oriented method of condition monitoring of drive technology for conveyors, hoists, grinding media etc has served the industry well, under the circumstances. But contemporary requirements, where machine uptime (availability) has to be guaranteed, dictate that other means have to be sought. The emergence of status-oriented maintenance, via digitisation, is the most convenient development from R&D technologies that are designed to deliver safe, efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly operations.
Mining companies are able to proactively maintain machinery and equipment and detect changes timeously. Thanks to digitisation, predictive maintenance can be carried out more effortlessly than before – in fact it is getting easier. In this way, they are able to reduce downtime and increase plant efficiency. This has also gained traction drive technology for mining machinery, where it is bringing incredible changes.
READ: Chemical dewatering agents for mineral processing
The capabilities of processors have increased in the scope of capabilities, resulting in the introduction of more features in variable frequency drives (VFDs). This is how it works: the drive controls the motor and uses the data gathered from the control to provide an update on the motor’s health.
Reduction in unscheduled downtimes in motors – thanks to the early detection emerging risks (prediction of maintenance requirements) – can be identified through digital drive monitoring.
The digitisation of drives could not have come at a more perfect time. Data from motors can be used to optimise machine performance. Eventually, an operator can benefit from greater stability, flexibility and efficiency. Productivity gains from various processes cumulatively increase a mining operation’s revenue (the benefits can be reflected on the bottom-line).
