Using inverters in the conveyor industry – ensuring reliable operation, reducing maintenance costs and saving energy consumption.
Conveyors are widely used in many stages of the mining process, often used in strictly demanding conditions, with common problems, such as the conveyor can be stretched, slipped or broken. The continuous conveyor operation will be worn out, become less reliable and can be malfunctioned. For industries that require a high degree of continuity in production operations, a conveyor failure will cause significant damage.
The inverter helps to protect the conveyor and mechanical equipment by precisely controlling the motor speed and torque, extending the operating time of the conveyor and reducing the operation and maintenance costs. At the same time, if a joint of conveyor needs to be repaired, the inverter will control the belt conveyor to the correct position for convenient repair.
Control for more stable conveyor operation
The conveyor transmission system has a very large starting torque. Large start torque leads to easy damage to mechanical equipment and an overload of power supply. Especially on long conveyors, the boot loader is higher because there are more materials on the conveyor. Then the startup process requires a higher starting torque and starting current. Soft starters can be used to reduce the starting current, but also reduce the starting torque. If the torque is not large enough to overcome the inertia of the conveyor, the conveyor will not start.
The inverter can create a high starting torque but still ensure the starting current within the allowable limit of the grid, the starting current is not too high and the grid voltage will not drop during startup. In addition, it is also possible to adjust the power factor at a stable value, thus contributing to keeping the grid stable. With a more stable grid, all electrical equipment in the plant operates more reliably, improves productivity and reduces failure. Smooth boot conveyor with properly controlled torque also reduces the tension and slip of the conveyor.
In addition to minimizing the operation of conveyor belts, the inverter offers efficient operation by smooth and precise control of the conveyor’s motor speed, allowing the conveyor speed to be adjusted in accordance with regulatory requirements. production process. The inverter can also be connected to the plant’s automated system, to monitor the load and velocity from which to calculate the total load.
If mechanical conditions permit, Inverter can help speed up the engine as required. For other applications that require the inverter to control the motor running below the rated speed, there will be a problem with cooling the engine if a self-cooling motor is used. For such applications, it is better to use a forced cooling motor.
Energy saving
Energy is saved when running the engine at low speed as required by the load and saving by removing the reactive power compensation device.
Moreover, in the case of a conveyor with many sloping sections, the function of the conveyor can be converted into electrical energy to return the grid with the regenerative brake inverter. Using inverters, conveyors are capable of running smoothly throughout the loading path, unaffected by the shape and curvature of the distance. Mechanical energy when a conveyor running on downward slopes can return to the grid with regenerative braking inverter. In addition, this mechanical energy can also be utilized with dual multi-drives inverter systems, when an inverter controls multiple motors at the same time. multi-drives Inverter using the same DC bus line. Then the mechanical energy emitted from the engine in generator mode (running downhill conveyor) will be used to run another engine running in the motor mode.
Simplify the design
In some cases, the transmission box can be completely removed, increasing the conveyor system performance. Asynchronous motors are used with the advantages of durable construction, low maintenance costs.
A smoother controlled drive will reduce overload in drive couplings and actuators, increasing the lifespan of these mechanisms.
The inverter can also make conveyor maintenance easier because of reversing the rotation of the motor. The inverter allows reversing and stopping the conveyor at the required position for convenient repair. If the conveyor is stuck, the drive can detect and stop the conveyor.
By improving stability, reducing maintenance costs, more precise controlling, more energy saving, the inverter has obviously brought many benefits to the conveyor in particular and the mining equipment in general.
