The mining industry must forgo its traditional energy consumption patterns, in a bid to ensure that the sector de-carbonize towards a greener and sustainable method of exploration. Given the need to increase energy supply in a globally carbon constrained environment, the mining trade needs to improve its energy efficient technologies, such as electrical variable speed drives, which could reduce energy consumption drastically.
The fundamentals of AC Variable Frequency Speed drive technology persist, but many elements are rapidly changing in aid to move towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly mining future. Increasingly, software is embedded in today’s mine processing components, offering new functionalities and enabling the AC drive to play a larger role in the processing plant.
“Conventionally, motors run at a fixed speed, regardless of actual output requirement, wasting a tremendous amount of energy. Energy output use can be reduced by 60%, by controlling motors with electrical Variable Speed Drives.” says Stephen Brown, Danfoss Drives – Mining Accounts and Business Development Manager, Turkey Middle East & Africa.