Data delivery drive for mineral processing
Introducing a new digital tool designed to further maximise uptime of gearless mill drives in mineral processing.
Engineering giant ABB has developed a new tool within its Ability Predictive Maintenance for Grinding (PMG) platform, designed to make troubleshooting and diagnostics in mineral processing faster and more efficient than ever before.
Traditionally, troubleshooting for grinding technology has required the onsite presence of an engineer or a direct remote access to the plant to identify the source of problems. The new cloud-based application named Trendex will give users of the platform visibility of fault data in high resolution three seconds before and 1.3 seconds after the event. Trendex works by automatically pushing event files to the cloud and linking event data with the transient records, providing users with near-instant access to operational data from any internet-connected device. It also delivers improved diagnostic and visualisation features to help engineers quickly restore production.
Eliminating the need for a direct remote connection while granting almost immediate access to the event-related signals in high resolution results in significantly faster response times in case of a trip. In a process such as grinding, where every operational minute counts, unplanned downtime has a significant impact on the business, damaging profitability and productivity. Trendex’s addition to the PMG platform will empower users, regardless of location, with real-time data to identify faults when they happen, pinpoint the root cause quickly, and swiftly return operations to full production.
EXTRACTION OPERATION
ABB gearless mill drives (GMDs) are vital to efficiently extracting critical minerals, such as copper, from increasingly low ore grades in global locations. The challenge for the industry is to meet the growing demand for critical minerals fuelling the energy transition by ensuring all relevant infrastructure is available and in place.
“Unscheduled downtime is a challenge anyone in the mining industry is familiar with,” says Carlos Miguez Fernandez, Global Product Manager for Service, Business Line Gearless Mill Drive, ABB. “However, in recent years, we are seeing systems are under increasing pressure to operate with maximum uptime due to market demands. We are constantly looking for ways to improve equipment availability and reduce operational costs – Trendex is the latest development in this ongoing mission. It will enhance our predictive maintenance platform for grinding, providing additional advanced real-time insights.”
EASY ACCESS SOLUTION
The Ability PMG platform is an advanced digital service to maintain, assess and analyse GMD systems. It provides easy access to GMD system parameters and allows visualisation of performance, considering past activity and real-time data, and assesses future maintenance requirements. It aims to extend the lifetime of grinding assets through better use of resources, support non-stop operation and avoid unforeseen downtime. When paired with the Grinding Connect mobile app, users can expect live notifications for precise fleet management and monitoring. With the addition of Trendex, users will now be able to get instant access to the event-related signals in high resolution as long as they have an internet connection, anywhere, anytime.