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September 15, 2009
Bucyrus, the leading supplier of AC-powered mining equipment, highlights the offering of turn-key electrical upgrade solutions for all Bucyrus shovels and draglines. Bucyrus has established a rich tradition of AC electrical expertise, having been the first mining equipment manufacturer to incorporate variable-frequency AC electric motors and controls into their machinery 30 years ago. This legacy, coupled with dedicated investment and resources, has facilitated the offering of AC electrical upgrade solutions for existing Bucyrus shovels and draglines. With the electrical upgrade solutions offered by Bucyrus, owners of Bucyrus legacy equipment are now able to incorporate the latest in Bucyrus EDGE Technology; an investment certain to improve productivity and availability!
Drawing upon the company’s established AC technology acumen, Bucyrus is leading the way in providing AC Active Front End/Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (AFE/IGBT) AC Helper Drives to Bucyrus equipment owners with existing DC rotating equipped machines. Bucyrus recently completed the electrical upgrade of a Bucyrus 8200 dragline at the Wesfarmers Curragh property in Australia. This 8200 model dragline was the first of its kind to be equipped with AC Helper Drives to the existing hoist and drag DC motions, and has been operating successfully since late April 2009. Upgrading electrical systems with AC AFE/IGBT AC Helper Drives and AC motors, as was done on the Bucyrus 8200 model dragline at Wesfarmers Curragh, is superior to the more common method of adding DC generating capacity and/or DC Helper Drives for electrical upgrades, and has been proven to increase a machine’s productivity and availability.
Each Bucyrus machine considered for an AC upgrade is assessed on an individual basis by Bucyrus personnel, taking mine plan and machine design into account. With mine plan information and data in hand, along with existing mechanical and electrical data specific to the machine being evaluated, Bucyrus calculates the machine’s base-line productivity. Utilizing this information, the appropriate solution – AC Helper Drives, a full AC electrical upgrade, DC upgrade, or no upgrade at all – is determined.
In addition to the electrical diagnostics, Bucyrus also evaluates the health of the machine’s mechanical components as they progress through the process. A complete system evaluation is required to determine the correct solution for each individual customer. Equipped with the information provided by Bucyrus, machine owners are able to evaluate return-on-investment (ROI) figures to determine the best solution for their operation. Due to the scope of consideration and the meticulous process adhered to, Bucyrus is confident that all ROI and productivity figures presented to the customer will be soundly supported.
Bucyrus equipment owners are now able to choose the optimum electrical upgrade solution for their mine operations. Various combinations ranging from complete electrical overhaul on existing DC or AC powered equipment to adding IGBT packages that work in conjunction with existing rectifier systems are available, enabling Bucyrus equipment owners to consider both operations and cost. Regardless of the magnitude of the upgrade, the increased productivity and availability gained from Bucyrus electrical upgrades provides the rationale for customers to experience the latest in Bucyrus EDGE Technology.
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