ABB AB - Mine Hoists

ABB AB has delivered more than 600 new mine hoists and undertaken the modernisation of hundreds of existing hoisting plants worldwide. Our unique position as supplier of complete mine hoists, both mechanical and electrical, enables us to optimise total solutions for our customers. In combination with close customer relations, ABB AB have made a number of technological breakthroughs for mine hoisting including the introduction of hydraulic disc brakes, analogue and digital thyristor converters, digital control and monitoring systems, controlled braking etc.

COMPLETE MINE HOISTS

ABB AB has over 60 years' experience of producing advanced mine hoists and offers a complete range of hoists including single drum, double drum and friction hoists for use as auxiliary or cage hoists and for shaft sinking. Our deliveries all feature:

• Mechanical equipment with high-performance disc brakes
• Shaft equipment such as skips, ropes with attachments and measuring pockets
• Modern DC or AC drive systems
• Advanced digital control and monitoring

Depending on the specific customer needs, the scope of supply is supplemented with power supply, remote diagnostics etc. providing a complete hoisting plant.

MODERNISATION OF EXISTING MINE HOISTS

In recent years, ABB AB has executed numerous projects for the modernisation of mine hoists manufactured by others or us. They range from minor upgrades of single hoists to large revamps of complete hoisting plants such as that at LKAB, Kiruna, where a total of 10 hoists were modernised with a total capacity of 26.5 million tonnes/year.

A modernisation project can involve a mechanical overhaul and revamp, the upgrade of brakes to brakes of disc type, the introduction of a hydraulic station for brake control, controlled emergency retardation, and the installation of a control and/or drive system.

CONTROL AND MONITORING SYSTEM

Installation of a new control system or the upgrade of an existing one leads to increased safety, increased productivity and increased availability of the hoisting plant. A modern control system will result in:

• Lower hoisting cycle time and higher production
• Less maintenance
• Improved reporting for production and maintenance
• Advanced diagnostics for fault tracing
• Remote diagnostics

Control system solutions are based on ABB AB's powerful and successful Advant OCS technology, adapted to the specific needs and requirements of hoisting applications.

AHM 110 DIGITAL HOIST MONITOR

AHM 110, Advant Hoist Monitor, is a complete solution for the monitoring and protection of all types of friction and drum hoists. It:

• Provides very accurate monitoring of all essential hoisting parameters such as speed, acceleration, retardation and position
• Works independently of all other control equipment and initiates an emergency stop in the event of overspeed or overwinding
• Is supplied as a complete, freestanding unit in a wall-mounted cabinet. It can be easily installed in existing mine hoists to replace a conventional mechanical hoist monitor such as a Lilly controller.

Accessories:

• Pulse counter with coupling
• Display unit for conveyance position indication, e.g. in the control desk
• Printer for event and parameter print-outs

HOIST BRAKE SYSTEM

With ABB AB's "controlled retardation" the braking force is controlled to obtain the same retardation in all operating situations (direction, speed, load and friction). This system has been installed in more than 25 hoisting plants and is used for both drum and friction hoists. Controlled braking works in the following two ways:

• Braking during normal operation with proportional control to give a soft stop
• Braking at an emergency stop with control giving a constant predefined retardation independent of the braking conditions

The system includes battery backup to provide correct operation during a power failure as well as monitoring of tachometers, supply voltages and hydraulic pressure. In the event of a battery failure, the hoist will stop within a safe retardation rate.

HOIST DRIVE SYSTEMS

ABB AB mine hoists are powered by reliable AC or DC motor drive systems, operating either directly or through a gearbox or flexible coupling. In order to minimize stress in the ropes the drive systems are designed to give smooth changes in motor torque and speed.