Dissipation of the braking energy of electrically powered mining equipment by liquid-cooled braking resistors
First Claim
1. A heat distribution system for mining equipment, wherein the mining equipment comprises an electrical motor and the electrical motor is configured to operate in at least one propel interval and in at least one retard interval, the heat distribution system comprising:
- a braking resistor;
a power module;
a control unit configured to;
determine whether the electrical motor is operating in a retard interval; and
upon determining that the electrical motor is operating in a retard interval;
switch a braking current generated by the electrical motor through the braking resistor; and
a liquid distribution system configured to transfer heat from the braking resistor to a cooling liquid, the liquid distribution system being further configured to transfer heat generated by the power module to the cooling liquid.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Braking current generated by an electrical motor on mining equipment during a retard interval is switched through one or more grid resistors that are liquid cooled. Under low ambient temperatures, a heating current can be switched through the grid resistors when the electrical motor is not operating in a retard interval. An integrated cooling system can be used to cool grid resistors and power modules. Heat dissipated by the grid resistors and the power modules can be circulated through auxiliary heating loops to heat portions of the mining equipment under low ambient temperatures. Multiple liquid-cooled power modules, liquid-cooled grid resistors, auxiliary heating loops, control modules, radiators, and pumps can be coupled by a liquid distribution system with various combinations of parallel and serial branches. Temperature, pressure, and flow rate in each branch can be independently controlled. Operation of the integrated cooling system can be controlled by a computational system.
29 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A heat distribution system for mining equipment, wherein the mining equipment comprises an electrical motor and the electrical motor is configured to operate in at least one propel interval and in at least one retard interval, the heat distribution system comprising:
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a braking resistor; a power module; a control unit configured to; determine whether the electrical motor is operating in a retard interval; and upon determining that the electrical motor is operating in a retard interval;
switch a braking current generated by the electrical motor through the braking resistor; anda liquid distribution system configured to transfer heat from the braking resistor to a cooling liquid, the liquid distribution system being further configured to transfer heat generated by the power module to the cooling liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification