EMX3 saves CHI from salt mines

1st Quarter 2009 Electrical switching & drive systems & components

CHI Engineered Solutions recently received an order in excess of R6 million from consultants Le Roux Boutel and Associates for the supply of a motor control centre for the control of UraMin Namibia’s Desalination Plant.

The application entails the control of nine 750 kW, 690 V, 702 A, 2-pole motors driving directly coupled centrifugal pumps, which require consistent extended acceleration. Ralph Real, CHI product manager, comments that, “This could have posed a challenge as the load may vary slightly causing the motor to stall or accelerate faster than expected. However, it was a control challenge easily met by using our new EMX3 soft starters.”

The EMX3 soft starters with XLR-8 adaptive acceleration offer extensive motor protection and customisable programmable I/O.

Using adaptive acceleration starting provides quick smooth initial acceleration from zero speed. The EMX3 then continues to accelerate the motor to full speed using the early acceleration profile within the programmed start time. Real says, “This early acceleration profile eliminates the end of ramp ‘over acceleration’ that can be experienced with constant current starting, and can cause unwanted pressure surges.” Any gradual load changes are accommodated by the EMX3 as it fine tunes itself to the motor’s characteristics during each start.

Apart from the adaptive acceleration the EMX3 features programmable I/O, a customised panel mountable IP65 keypad and enhanced functionality. Installed costs can be reduced and installation simplified by mounting the keypad display unit remotely on the panel door where the four line LCD display can provide extensive status information which would normally require additional investment.

For more information contact Rob Hare, CHI Control Components, +27 (0)11 824 7400, [email protected], www.chicontrol.co.za

Further reading:

Understanding standby, prime and continuous gensets
WEG Africa Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The increasing reliance of South African businesses on generator sets to mitigate power disruptions highlights a crucial need for proper selection based on specific operational demands. Despite their growing usage, there is still widespread confusion about how to choose the appropriate genset, often leading to inefficient and costly decisions.

Read more...

---

PC-based control for advanced hydrogen storage technology
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The proportion of renewable energies from solar, wind and water is rising continuously. However, sufficient storage options are of the essence to use these energies as efficiently as possible. GKN Hydrogen offers a particularly compact and safe option, low-pressure metal hydride hydrogen storage systems with PC-based control from Beckhoff.

Read more...

---

Axiom reaches new heights
Axiom Hydraulics Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
When Rula Bulk Handling could not source a cable tensioner large enough for a new cableway, the engineers knew they had to come up with an inventive solution. After discovering that no such tensioner was immediately available, Rula approached Axiom Hydraulics and ifm to assist with building their own.

Read more...

---

Local range of planetary units
SEW-EURODRIVE Electrical switching & drive systems & components
s SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa actively extends its offerings to customers, the SEW PPK and SEW P2.e industrial gearbox ranges are good examples of solutions that are well suited to the local business environment.

Read more...

---

At least 60 million strokes
Horne Technologies Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Designing and constructing compact automation systems is one of the core activities of the Austrian machine manufacturer, STIWA. Its modular LTM-CI system has been optimised for small parts assembly. Linear and rotating micromotors from Faulhaber perform key tasks in these systems.

Read more...

---

Innovative five-axis laser precession scanner
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Motion control specialist, Aerotech has launched the AGV5D, an innovative five-axis laser precession scanner specially developed for laser micromachining. This makes it possible to create high-precision bores, contoured slots and other complex geometries with dimensional tolerances in the sub-micrometre range.

Read more...

---

A leap forward in electrohydrostatic pump technology
Customized Motion Controls Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Moog has launched the EPU-G, the latest addition to its Electrohydrostatic Pump Unit portfolio.

Read more...

---

Minetruck with electric drivetrain combines power and innovation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is the first of Epiroc’s large-capacity mine trucks to feature the latest generation electric drivetrain. Along with an upgraded and powerful diesel engine, the hauler combines the cost-effectiveness of a traditional mine truck with the productivity of an electric one, without requiring changes to a mine’s infrastructure.

Read more...

---

Modular hydraulic control blocks for brake actuation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Electrohydraulic brake release valves are exposed to extreme loads, and can become uncontrollable in the event of a power failure. The experts at WEBER-HYDRAULIK GMBH have developed a practical, modular solution that ensures the safety of construction machinery, and is also suitable for a wide range of other vehicles with hydrostatic drive systems.

Read more...

---

Modular assembly platform for clean manufacturing
Beckhoff Automation Electrical switching & drive systems & components
JR Automation delivers custom automated solutions for numerous industries. It has done this through its scalable, modular automation platform, FlexChassis, which speeds up time to market while cutting costs. The company chose the XTS linear transport system from Beckhoff because of its speed, and modular design that allows for multiple configurations.

Read more...

---