Erlangen, July 20, 2007 ? Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services (I & S) has equipped a 19 km long conveyor belt system with drive systems for Alcoa Inc., based in Texas (USA). Siemens systems offer precise methods of control, can be quickly and flexibly to different loads and are highly energy efficient.
Alcoa is a leader in aluminum production. The plant in Rockdale, Texas, needs a constant supply of lignite energy to maintain production throughout the day. To this end, aconveyor belt system transports the necessary coal from the mine to Rockdale Three Oaks, a distance of 32 kilometers.
The critical section in the middle of the road transport, which is approximately 19 kilometers long, is bridged with the longest belt conveyor unique in the world, parts of which must pass through a field uneven. This link between the point where the material comes from the open pit mine and the place from which is then taken to the power plant.
The belt system was equipped with a solution of R & S With Simine product family, which has strong systems and efficient energy transmission. Five drivessystems SIMOVERT MASTERDRIVES VC type, each with 556 kW have been installed. The units are strategically placed so that the completesystem can be optimally operated, stopped and started up. A unit has been installed at the loading point, two units in the middle of the road and two at the point of discharge.
The fiber optic cables between the conveyor belt stations enable the operator to individually control the belt speed, for example by slowing down when the load is too heavy, accelerate or stop quickly. The belt controlsystem prevents oscillations of the belt during starting and stopping. The system was adapted to the following loading conditions: no load, partial load and full load. This method of operation uses much less energy than conventional belt drive uncontrolled.
Moreover, the protection of mechanical components. Round the top of the clock availability with low operating costs has been reached. The units are first powered up to ten percent of the total speed and, after a plateau of about 60 to 120 seconds, thesystem accelerates the rate of 100 per cent target.
Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I & S) is the integrator of systems and solutions for industrial service providers and global infrastructure services for the plant and projects business covering planning, installation, operation and lifecycle. I & S uses its own products and systems and process technologies in order to enhance productivity and improve competitiveness of companies in the sectors of metallurgy, water treatment, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine engineering, mining open sky, airport logistics, postal automation, intelligent traffic systems and industrial services. In fiscal 2006 (September 30) I & S employed a total of 36,200 people worldwide and achieved total sales of 8.819 billion, according to U.S. GAAP.
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