Siemens Technology Drives The World's Longest Conveyor Belt System In Texas Open-Cast Mine
ATLANTA -- Siemens has equipped a 19-kilometer-long conveyor belt system with drive systems for Alcoa Inc., based in Texas. The Siemens systems offer precise methods of control, can be quickly and flexibly adapted to different loads and are highly energy-efficient.
Alcoa is a leading producer of aluminum. The power plant in Rockdale, Texas, that supplies power to the aluminum smelter needs a constant supply of coal for energy to maintain production around the clock. For this purpose, a conveyor belt system transports the necessary coal from the Three Oaks Mine to Rockdale, a distance of 32 kilometers.
The critical section in the middle of the transport route, which is approximately 19 kilometers long, is bridged with the longest single conveyor belt in the world, parts of which have to pass over uneven terrain. It is the link between the point where the material comes out of the open-cast mine and the place from where it is then taken to the power station.
The belt system was fitted with the Simine Con solution package. Five Simovert MASTERDRIVE VC, variable frequency drives, each with 556 kW, were installed. The drives are strategically positioned in such a way that, in combination with the technological belt control system, optimum and safe operation is ensured in respect of the dynamic behavior of the conveyor belt. One drive has been installed at the loading point, two drives in the middle of the route and two at the unloading point. The belt control system prevents oscillations of the conveyor belt during starting and stopping. The system was matched to the following loading situations: no load, partial load and full load. This method of operation uses considerably less energy than conventional uncontrolled belt drives. Moreover, the mechanical components are protected. The drives are first powered up to ten percent of the total speed and, after a stabilization phase of approximately 60 to 120 seconds, the system is accelerated to its 100 percent target speed. Fiber-optic cables and light signals between the conveyor belt stations enable the operator to make direct changes during the operating phase. This ensures high availability with low operating costs 24 hours a day.
For more information please visit:
www.siemens.com/mining
About Siemens
In the U.S., Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. represents the I&S Group within Siemens AG. I&S is the systems and solutions integrator for industrial and infrastructure facilities and global service provider for the plant and projects business covering planning, installation and operation across the entire life cycle. I&S uses its own products, systems and process technologies to enhance productivity and improve the competitiveness of companies in metallurgy, water treatment, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine engineering, open-cast mining, airport logistics, postal automation, intelligent traffic systems and industrial services. In fiscal 2006 (to September 30) I&S employed a total of 36,200 people worldwide and achieved total sales of EUR 8.819 billion, according to U.S. GAAP. For more information, please visit:
www.sea.siemens.com
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Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $107.4 billion in fiscal 2006. Founded nearly 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $21.4 billion and employs approximately 67,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 475,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States:
www.usa.siemens.com