Choosing variable-frequency drive systems for the mining process units

¹ North-Eastern Federal University named after Ammosov, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, 677000 Yakutsk, Russia
² Mirny Polytechnic Institute, the branch of North-Eastern Federal University named after Ammosov, 678170 Mirny, Russia
³ ALROSA PJSC, 678170 Mirny, Russia
⁴ Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after Alekseev, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

^* Corresponding author: as.semenov@s-vfu.ru

Abstract

Mining enterprises are energy intensive facilities. The capacity of single technological units can reach 5 MW. Variable-frequency drive systems are often used to set them in motion. The paper analyzes the features of choosing and using variable-frequency drives under diamond mining conditions. The study objective is to formulate and formalize the problems of introducing and operating variable-frequency drives at diamond-mining enterprises to further develop and implement guidelines for improving the performance of this drive type. To achieve this objective, the use of variable frequency drives in various process units of diamond mining should be studied and analyzed. The units are considered, for which in recent years, electric drive systems have been groundlessly (according to the authors) chosen by the engineering staff of enterprises. A technical and economic comparison of low-voltage frequency converters with the same power but different control modes is performed. The economic indicators of introducing high-voltage and low-voltage frequency converters into an existing electric drive system are calculated and represented as a comparative table. Conclusions are made on the need to proceed with the research and develop guidelines for implementing frequency converters at diamond-mining enterprises.