WEG proves massive dual-pinion ball mill drive 18 July 2014

Industrial electric motors specialist WEG has successfully tested low-speed synchronous motors driven by frequency inverters at up to a massive 250,000Nm shaft torque – for mills with dual pinions – at its plant in Brazil.

Due to complexity and cost, equipment is usually tested individually. However, for this project, the unit was tested complete prior to shipment, to ensure system reliability.

Tests were carried out over a period of four weeks and included two 4,700kW 30-pole synchronous motors connected back-to-back, directly coupled to the shaft.

They were driven by medium voltage model MVW01 frequency inverters producing a current of 1,178A at 3.3kV alongside a phase-shifting transformer.

The equipment was tested at full load and provided a torque of 250,000Nm at the motor shaft, recording the highest testing load ever achieved by any electrical equipment manufacturer in the southern hemisphere.

The equipment is part of an order for electric motor drives (induction, synchronous and wound-rotor motors driven by frequency inverters or rheostats) for 18 ball mills and semi-autogenous grinding (SAG – mining ore essentially grinds itself) mills with dual and single pinions.

WEG supplies a range of systems to the mining industry for driving large mills, including low- and high-speed motors, gearboxes and frequency inverters.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
WEG Electrical Motors (UK) Ltd

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