Method for powering mining equipment

• US 7,398,012 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Large Drives LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Koellner, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip; Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/126,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 318/254, 318/599, 318/138, 318/139, 318/434, 318/376, 318/801, 388800-900, 307/39, 307/151, 180/65.1, 320/104
• US Class Current: 388/830
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can include a static DC electric drive system for mining equipment. The drive system can include: an active front end adapted to receive an AC voltage and output a substantially constant DC voltage; and a DC chopper coupled to the active front end, the DC chopper adapted to receive the substantially constant DC voltage and output a variable DC voltage.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

to control a speed of a motor, via an electric drive system comprising a first direct current (DC) chopper and a second DC chopper, providing current to the motor, said second DC chopper in an anti-parallel arrangement with said first DC chopper, said first DC chopper adapted to provide current to said motor in a first current direction, said second DC chopper adapted to provide current to said motor in a second current direction, each of said first DC chopper and said second DC chopper adapted to act as DC voltage regulators.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via said first DC chopper, generating a Pulse Wave Modulated DC voltage, said first DC chopper comprising;

a plurality of IGBT transistors;

firing circuit to fire the IGBT transistors; and

a digital control circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via said first DC chopper, generating a Pulse Wave Modulated DC voltage having a variable amplitude.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via said first DC chopper, generating a continuously variable time-averaged voltage output.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in association with a variable DC voltage, providing a total harmonic distortion.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a variable power factor associated with a variable DC voltage.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a variable DC voltage.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Providing a variable DC voltage to said motor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said motor is a DC propel motor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said motor is a DC hoist motor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said motor is a DC swing motor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said motor is a DC crowd motor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said motor is a DC drag motor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first DC chopper is coupled to an active front end.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

Said first DC chopper is coupled to an active front end comprising;

an input reactor;

a plurality of IGBT transistors and anti parallel diodes in a bridge configuration;

a firing circuit to fire the IGBT transistors; and

a digital control circuit.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said electric drive system comprises:

no power factor compensation equipment.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said electric drive system comprises:

no harmonic filters.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said electric drive system is comprised by a mining excavator.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said electric drive system is comprised by a shovel.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the electric drive system is comprised by a drag line.