By Eric N. Berkhimer, P.E.

Working with a western Canadian coal operator, P&H Mining Equipment conducted a case study to compare the performance of its AC-powered rope shovel against its DC-powered shovel. The mine operates several P&H electric rope shovels and last year purchased two P&H 4100XPC AC shovels. Because these units were new to the operation and are matched with some new capacity haul trucks as well, a study was carried out in March 2011 to assess the productivity of these new shovels in comparison to a 4100XPC DC shovel that has been used on the property since mid-2008.

The results showed the AC shovels exhibited a higher availability than the DC shovel through a similar period. Additionally, initial results indicate the cycle time of the AC shovels is faster, resulting in a higher production rate.

DC controls on P&H electric shovels evolved from Ward-Leonard to the analog Electrotorque in 1968, the digital Electrotorque Plus in 1997, and the Centurion in 2004. The Centurion supervisory control and data acquisition technology put P&H in a position to offer AC drives as a reliable alternative to DC drives. The company’s first AC drive shovels went into service in 2007—two years after it launched its AC drive shovel initiative. Today, P&H offers both DC and AC drive shovels as demand continues for DC drive shovels in some mining regions while other regions standardize on AC drive technology.

To validate the productivity rates from the 4100XPC AC shovels, particularly in loading 345-ton Cat 795F and 400-ton 797F haul trucks, a joint productivity study was planned and executed between the mine and P&H. In addition to performance improvements, P&H also wanted to verify that its voice-of-customer driven approach for mine operations was effective.

Changes from 4100XPC DC to 4100XPC AC
A number of important improvements were included on the 4100XPC AC shovel affecting reliability and/or productivity:

  • Factory-built modular rear room enclosure for streamlined electrical routings resulting in shorter installation time and improved efficiency in troubleshooting, thus reducing downtime;
  • AC motors used on swing and hoist to improve swing and hoist speeds resulting in productivity improvements;
  • Modifications (to name a few) were made to the front idler, lube system, roller dimensions, revolving frame dimensions, roller path, hoist gear case, boom and gantry to improve reliability;
  • Independent drives for each propel motor allowing “propel on demand” and eliminating the time required for a transfer from dig mode to propel mode and back resulting in higher productivity because there is more time available for production rather than propel delays; and
  • Rear room with improved climate temperature and dust control.

These upgrades were made to improve the performance of the 4100XPC AC, several of which were targeted for validation during the study.

Data Acquisition
A study to compare the productivity figures between a 4100XPC DC and a 4100XPC AC was jointly conducted starting the week of February 28, 2011, between P&H Mining/MinePro Services and the mine. A set of truck scales was brought in by the mine to weigh haul trucks loaded by the 4100XPC AC (with a few loads from other shovels). Those weighed included 320-ton Komatsu 930E, 345-ton Cat 795F and 400-ton Cat 797F haul trucks.

During the same period, time studies were conducted on the 4100XPB DC (Shovel S05), 4100XPC DC (Shovel S06), and the first 4100XPC AC (Shovel S07). Additionally, the P&H PreVail data acquisition system installed on Shovel S07 was monitored for payload consistency as compared to data from the truck scales. PreVail also provided additional information on the swing angle, digging time in the bank, time to swing loaded, and time to swing and return to the tuck position for each dipper pass. The same operator was used on each different shovel during the time studies to eliminate operator skill level as a variable in the study. In all, there were:

  • Nearly 10 hours of time study data collected;
  • 226 trucks loaded by Shovel S07 weighed on the truck scales (over a four-day period); and
  • Nearly 8,000 data points from the PreVail system on Shovel S07 (over a five-day period) detailing swing angle, time hoisting in the bank, time swinging loaded and time swinging empty to a tuck position.

As part of the study, photos were taken of representative dipper and truck fills to use in future operator discussions and training so that operators can better recognize when the dipper and truck are loaded to capacity.

Additional data obtained from the mine included:

  • Availability data for the first six months of operation on Shovel S06 and life-to-date information on both Shovel S07 and S08;
  • Preventive maintenance schedules and actual history for the shovels; and
  • Operator and maintenance technician comments and feedback concerning the DC vs. AC shovel models.

The study compared the 4100XPC DC and AC shovels from several different aspects: physical availability, cycle time, preventive maintenance requirements, hourly parts costs and, finally, overall productivity.

Availability
Excluding the first two months of operation to allow for a break-in period on each shovel, excellent results were found on all three shovels under consideration with the lowest physical availability being 92.52% on the 4100XPC DC Shovel S06 for the subsequent four months of operation. The two AC shovels (over a three month operating period on Shovel S07 and one month on Shovel S08) had a weighted average physical availability of 93.96%.

It should be noted that life-to-date (through more than 16,000 operating hours), Shovel B has demonstrated a 93.58% physical availability, an improvement over the first several months of operation.

If these numbers are maintained over time and assuming a fully trucked unit, an availability advantage of approximately 1.5% can add significantly to the mine’s production rate. Under fully-utilized conditions, an improvement of just 1% availability can add some 250,000 m3 of overburden annually to the overall mine production (even considering the same production per hour).

In the design of the AC shovel, P&H targeted an availability improvement of 1% to 2% over the DC version of the same shovel model. The results suggest that this is accurate.

Cycle Time
One of the key components in a shovel’s productivity is the time it takes the shovel to load a dipper of material into the truck (along with the payload in each dipper full). In an electric rope shovel, the cycle time consists of the following components:

  • Hoisting in the bank to load the dipper;
  • Swinging a full dipper to the truck;
  • Dumping into the truck; and
  • Returning with an empty dipper to a tucked position to begin the next cycle.

In the time studies conducted, each component (except dump) was tracked individually (dump was considered part of both the swing empty and swing return components and assumed to be 2 seconds—one second accounted for in each of these). PreVail data showed an average swing angle of approximately 60°.

As seen from the time study data on cycle time components (See Figure 1), the 4100XPC AC has an average cycle time of some 3.5 seconds faster than that of the 4100XPC DC. This represents a significant reduction in the load times of the shovel. A minor portion of the cycle time savings was in the swing loaded component (0.4 seconds) but the vast majority of the cycle time savings is in the time required to hoist the dipper through the bank. Faster hoist times as demonstrated here are one of the inherent advantages of an AC drive over a DC drive in an electric rope shovel. Some of the time savings can be attributed to the shaped bucket that is currently being used on the AC shovels. These buckets are endorsed by P&H to reduce dig time in the face.

P&H targeted a cycle time improvement of 1 to 2 seconds over the 4100XPC DC when designing the AC shovel. The study indicates that the target number is currently being met.

Dipper Payload
Dipper payload observations on 4100XPC AC Shovel S07 were made using the PreVail system equipped on the shovel as well as the total truck payloads from the truck scales study information. Over a five-day period (March 1-5, 2011), the PreVail system indicated an average dipper payload of 91.2 metric tons (mt) from some 8,000 data points. Observations made (of the PreVail system) strictly during the time studies conducted indicated an average dipper payload of 93.1 mt. The trucks weighed over a four-day period during the study (March 2-5, 2011) indicated an average dipper payload of 92.7 mt. This resulted in a very narrow range of only 1.9 mt (a 2% spread), resulting in a very high correlation between all observations made.

However, it should be noted that there are some differences—from day-to-day as well as from truck model to truck model—that are perhaps more significant. According to Figure 2, the range from day-to-day may be as high as 10% reflecting changes in the digging conditions, material fragmentation, position within the bank, etc.

It is also interesting to note there is a difference in dipper payloads when the 4100XPC AC is loading the smaller Komatsu 930E haul trucks and when it is loading the Cat 795F haul trucks. When loading the 930Es, the 4100XPC had an average dipper payload of 90.2 mt. When loading the 795F haul trucks, it had an average dipper payload of 95.2 mt—a variation of 5.5%. This difference was relatively consistent from day-to-day and indicates that the operator may likely be loading to a higher dipper payload (at least subconsciously) when he knows that a larger truck is present. Both 4100XPC shovels studied were equipped with 55 m3 dippers.

 

Preventive Maintenance, Scheduling & Experience
To date, the mine has maintained the same preventive maintenance (PM) schedule for the AC shovels as currently being used with the 4100XPC DC shovel. They are, however, investigating the possibility of extending these intervals. Based on current data, the mine has found that the average machine downtime for each PM is some 2.2 hours less with the 4100XPC AC shovels than with the DC-powered 4100XPC. Additionally, they are using an average of 7.6 fewer man-hours for the electrical portion of the PM (See Figure 3).

These indications from the PM data show that there can be a significant advantage to the AC shovel. If the operator is achieving an average of 3,300 bank cubic meters (BCM) per hour of production and can gain an extra two hours of production for every 500 hours of operation, there would be the potential for 79,000 BCM of additional material to be moved each year. The labor savings can also add up to a significant reduction in PM costs. These results would be compounded further should the PM intervals for the AC shovels be extended.

Hourly Parts Cost
Six months of operation on the 4100XPC AC at the mine had not allowed sufficient operating hours for the operation to generate a history of parts cost comparison between the DC and AC shovels. P&H Life Cycle Management, however, has made some long-term projections.

Primarily because of the lower maintenance involved with the AC motors, P&H projects an overall 4% reduction in parts cost per hour with the AC-powered 4100XPC versus the DC-powered unit (based on 6,000 hour-meter hours per year).

Annually, the savings varies from 2.7% to 5.4% with the higher variances occurring in the two earlier periods. Combined with the higher productivities experienced from the AC shovel, the cost per BCM is further reduced significantly.

Overall Productivity
It is difficult to compare productivities based strictly on the time study data because shovels do not experience the same levels of truck presentation. Table 2 compares the expected overall production between a P&H 4100XPC DC and a 4100XPC AC based on double-side loading of the trucks and some of the other parameters observed during the time studies conducted of both shovels. An operating efficiency of 83% (50 minute-hour) will be used and a haul truck capacity of 290 mt is assumed for this estimate (with a 3-pass load).

Based on the cycle times observed, the 4100XPC AC would have an estimated productivity advantage of 11.2% over the 4100XPC DC in similar operating conditions. This is currently higher than projected by P&H but a target long-term advantage of 5% to 6% should be very achievable.

As projected by P&H during the design phase of the 4100XPC AC shovel and as validated by this study, the AC-powered shovel offers some significant cost and productivity advantages over the DC-powered shovel. The AC shovel is achieving a 1% to 2% better availability (over the same period); a faster cycle time equating to a higher productivity; and, projected lower operating costs. Considering all of these factors, the 4100XPC AC is expected to have a positive long-term impact on both production and cost per ton/BCM moved at the mine.

Berkhimer is a senior applications engineer for P&H Mining Equipment. This article was adapted from a presentation he made at the Haulage & Loading conference, which was held during May 2011 in Phoenix, Ariz.

P&H Implements Real-Time Data Solution

P&H is using AspenTech’s real time database to capture operational data from electric shovels operating worldwide, improving equipment uptime and increasing profitability for customers. The company’s PreVail Remote Health Monitoring (RHM), which provides insight into the health and performance of its electric shovels, relies on Aspen InfoPlus.21. The system monitors equipment in real-time and enables the mine to deploy labor resources to the right place at the right time, reducing unplanned shovel shutdowns.

“Using Aspen InfoPlus.21 data historian for continuous data collection, the PreVail system allows us to diagnose root causes quickly and reliably,” said Ken Daniel, RHM group leader, P&H Mining.

A key part of any real-time data environment is a data historian. Storing and analyzing this data with dashboards allows operators to become proactive and apply best-practice monitoring techniques. When equipment approaches scheduled maintenance or more importantly, when real-time, algorithm-based alerts suggest potential for failure, operators can proactively warn the maintenance department before a shutdown occurs. These alerts can be sent via mobile devices, further improving response times.

Mines are already benefitting from this technology. An operator at a coal mine in Wyoming recently reported a problem with a shovel drive, a P&H technical support specialist remotely accessed the real-time performance of the shovel and the historical data in Aspen InfoPlus.21 to confirm the drive was faulty. This information allowed the drive to be replaced before it failed, saving downtime and reducing lost production and parts cost.

With the successful implementation of this solution, P&H is now looking to apply condition monitoring techniques to all equipment, including drills and draglines. P&H currently monitors more than 1 billion records a day and plans to increase this by over a factor of 10 in the next two years. As a secondary benefit P&H’s R&D group is using the data to improve its next generation of shovels.

Enhancements Improve Shovel Safety

Siemens has developed several new enhancements related to the electrics on rope shovels. “Periodically we review products from different vantage points such as safety, productivity, efficiency and sustainability,” said Daniel Robertson, business development manager, Siemens, who specializes in software and controls for electric shovels. “From a safety perspective, Siemens identified several areas for improvement.”

As an example, a new design layout relocates the DC link and line voltage transducers from a frequently accessed low voltage control area to a separate compartment. Technicians can now access the low voltage control area systems without requiring high-voltage access permits. For some of the more common maintenance routines, such as switching breakers on and off, technicians will now have safe, easy access.

A recent Caterpillar shovel order, which was headed to Australia in January, included an option for a DC link grounding switch. The device provides the means to physically connect both terminals of the DC link to ground before maintenance technicians enter the cabinet. By grounding the DC link before entry, service personnel can avoid the potential hazard from residual voltage. “The normal shutdown sequence uses the over-voltage choppers to rapidly discharge the system down to 50 volts,” Robertson said. “From that point, bleed resistors continue to bring the voltage down to zero within 5 minutes. There was, however, no provision to positively ensure zero potential.” Standard electrical safety practices were used to manually ground the system, but these methods require human intervention, and the use of PPE. “This process has now been automated so the system is grounded before the cabinet is opened,” Robertson said. The risk has been engineered out of the system. The grounding switch is located within the inverter cabinet, but is actuated externally and includes a sight window so the ground connections can be physically verified in addition to status indicators.

Another new option gives technicians the ability to test the ground fault circuit. The native ground fault circuit involves a voltage divider across the DC link with one point tied to ground, Robertson explained. The presence of a ground, and its location, is determined based on the voltage across the ground fault capacitor. “This circuit is still in place, but we have augmented it with a method to test the circuit.” Siemens developed a ground fault test circuit where technicians can switch in a ground and see that the system is responding to it and it shuts down accordingly.

Siemens has also added new signage for each cabinet cover. Previously, simple signage was used to indicate the presence of high voltage. The new signage, inspired by Australian mine safety standards, provide an indication of high voltage, as well as detailed information indicating the voltage level present behind each bolted cover.

Another future improvement aims to reduce any fall hazard by moving components, originally located in compartments on top of the electrical cabinet to a safer location. These cabinets are taller than 6 ft, which requires maintenance technicians to use a ladder to access the components on top. “We made some space available so that we could move these components to a lower position where they could be easily accessed without the use of a ladder,” Robertson said. In addition to safety, Robertson explained, the new design also improves repair times because the technicians wouldn’t have to locate a ladder and harness and work in a restricted environment.

These enhancements will be available for all new Cat shovel orders and Siemens is pursuing aftermarket rebuild kits for existing equipment. The kits will be available by late 2012.

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