Kinfoss K30 VFD for Sugar Mill Belt Conveyor

Conveyors are used in various sugar manufacturing processes. For example, conveyor load is to transport sugarcane/sugar bagasse or sugar production.

The environment is demanding and there is always a risk of damaging the belt by overstretching, slipping or breaking. To reduce operational costs, it is important to extend the belt lifetime and availability.

Conveyors in the sugar factory

The advantages of frequency inverter driving:

1. Extended lifetime and increased availability

Frequency inverters provide accurate torque and speed control of conveyors. This reduces the stress on mechanical equipment such as gearboxes, pulley and belts, especially during start-up and stopping, as well as during operation and maintenance.

2. Significant energy savings

Starting and stopping conveyors with variable speed drives (VSD) does not cause additional stress to the equipment. Therefore, conveyors can be stopped or operated at reduced speed if material demand is intermittently resulting in decreased energy consumption. VFDs are not running at full speed, the speed is changed with copper ore production. Comparing with full speed running, there is lots of energy saving.

3. Smooth ramp up

VSD’s provide a smooth ramp-up of conveyors. They deliver high starting torque for the current drawn from the power system and have a programmed upper limit to reduce peak torque during the startup of the conveyor. The low starting currents and high starting torque enable smooth startup of the conveyor, even when it is fully loaded.

4. Low-speed operation for belt inspection

For maintenance inspection about belt changes and repairs, it is possible to run the conveyor belt at low speed.