Invertek Drives’ Optidrive P2 VFDs Optimize Demanding Mining Processes
The Optidrive P2 VFD from Invertek Drives has demonstrated its ability to improve efficiency and production while minimizing energy usage during operation at a hard rock mining site in Indonesia.
Invertek Drives announced in a recent case study that their Optidrive P2 Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) have been successfully deployed in a hard rock mining operation in Indonesia. Since the VFDs’ use in the mine, efficiency has increased, as only the correct amount of torque is applied to rock crusher motors, conveyor belt motors, and other such heavy equipment. Overall, controlling the motors with the VFDs has decreased energy usage and increased throughput at the mine.
Invertek Drives’ Optidrive P2 VFDs have optimized hard rock mining processes for an Indonesian mining company. Image used courtesy of Invertek Drives
Drive Needs in Hard Rock Mining
Hard rock mining is a challenging production environment. Depending on the specific materials being extracted, the mine may implement blasting, drilling, excavation, ball milling, crushing, leaching, and numerous other techniques to remove the relevant materials.
One of the biggest energy uses in hard rock mining is the transportation of ores, dirt, and rock between various processing steps. Sometimes, this transportation is performed with ore trucks, but conveyor belts are more commonly used between fixed process locations. For example, muck from blasting might be delivered by truck, run through a crusher, then to a ball mill, a leach pad, or some other process by conveyor belt.
Crushing is performed to break down rocks into smaller particles, thus speeding up the chemical attack during leaching operations or to develop “grades” or sizes of material, such as is found with standard driveway gravel. In either case, the power demands on a rock crusher are large. Whether crushing is performed by rotors, a hammermill, a ball mill, or cones, the power required to drive these machines is a major financial consideration.
Invertek Drives’ Optidrive P2 VFDs are designed to operate in heavy-duty environments. Image used courtesy of Invertek Drives
The Optidrive P2 Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
Invertek Drives’ Optidrive P2 VFD can be configured with all motor types, including induction, AC permanent magnet, brushless DC, and synchronous reluctance. The VFDs are available in various sizes and can be used to control the power to devices up to 250 kW. Virtually any piece of electrical equipment can be controlled with the Optidrive P2 VFDs. Both single and three-phase input models are available.
The Optidrive P2 VFDs are available in IP66/NEMA 4X-rated enclosures, making them a good fit for the rugged mining environment, as occasional water spray, dust, extreme temperatures, and other elements that add extra wear and tear to electronics are frequently encountered at mine sites.
Another important advantage is that the Optidrive P2 VFDs have a speedy response time for emergency-stop situations. The VFD can be controlled directly by the safety relay instead of being routed through a separate input contactor.
No input contactor is required for an emergency stop situation when the Optidrive P2 is used. Image used courtesy of Invertek Drives
High-performance VFD Solutions
While Invertek Drives’ recent case study refers to the mining industry, the Optidrive P2 VFDs can be applied in virtually any industry that uses motors or pumps. Invertek Drives’ equipment has been deployed in paper, textiles, agriculture, heavy-duty HVAC, material handling, wastewater treatment, and many other applications.
