Power Management Company Eaton launched a number of new products at this year’s Electra Mining Africa exhibition, which took place earlier this month at the Expo Centre, in Johannesburg.

“We pride ourselves on being the go-to provider of reliable, safe and efficient products within the mining ecosystem through our balanced portfolio of best-in-class technologies. Our 89-year history in Africa demonstrates our expertise in helping our customers to better manage costs and capital, mitigate risk and work safely by providing innovative solutions to manage power in key industry segments,” said Eaton Africa mining head Trevor Sansom during a media briefing.

Eaton global mining, metals and minerals industry manager David Durocher added: “For the mining industry, we have innovations that are applicable to above- and below-ground applications, which are designed to keep mines running safely and reliably.”

Products launched at Electra Mining included the Power Xpert CXH, a low-voltage motor control and power-distribution solution designed to deliver improved performance in demanding operations. The unit is powered by industry-leading motor control and protection component technologies, providing a level of reliability and safety that exceeds International Electrotechnical Commission standards.

The Power Xpert CXH has a broad range of sophisticated features that ensure fewer process interruptions and greater confidence in the safety of operations. Its modular design ensures a fit-for-purpose low-voltage switchgear system with ratings up to 6 300 A.

An additional feature is its Power Xpert C445 motor management relay, which is designed to give users the means to intelligently monitor and protect their system with greater accuracy. The C445 has the highest level of monitoring accuracy and protection for the entire power system, from the incoming power source feeding the motor to the individual pump or load.

The Power Xpert C445 helps customers provide the highest level of motor protection for their motors, while significantly improving uptime. The benefit of the C445 is the user definable alarm and trip levels, as well as the programmable delays that provide protection while avoiding downtime and nuisance tripping.

The C445 motor management relay took motor protection a step further, as it provided “insight as to what is happening with the motor and . . . the load”, Eaton industrial control product manager Devan Reddy explained.

He noted that the C445 relay measured current and voltage, the combination of which allowed for the relay’s “interrogating the motor and its load with greater accuracy”.

Another key feature was its compact design, with a 20% smaller footprint than other motor management relays on the market, Reddy asserted.

Eaton also launched its Series NRX low-voltage air circuit breaker, designed to meet the needs of low-voltage power distribution applications. The compact size limits nonrevenue-generating floor space, and the modular design and common accessories allow for easy panel and switchboard integration.

The Series NRX can also be fitted with Eaton’s L112 belt conveyer control system, which is designed for harsh and hazardous environments, such as those typically found in the mining industry. Its standard features include voice communications, signalling and prestart warnings.

To ensure risk reduction, the L112 is equipped with the SIL3-certified safety coupler, which uses emergency shutdown, misalignment and pull rope switches, with an integrated encoding circuit for identification. All the equipment is Ex certified in accordance with Atex equipment requirements for mines where fire damp poses danger.

Eaton also launched its Power Xpert Modular, an electrical house, or E-house, designed and developed by Eaton engineers to leverage performance with the best cost benefit.

The modular and scalable design enables the modular electrical house to operate in complex environments, integrating customers’ complete power assembly requirements. The design also allows for easy transport by truck, reducing cost and improving installation time for energy, mining infrastructure, data centre and construction segment applications.