INVT GD1000 VFD for Coal Shearer Application in Underground Mining Industry

Background

Coal shearers are crucial equipment for the mechanization and modernization of coal mining operations. They are primarily used in longwall mining faces to perform coal breaking and loading operations. As the core equipment in fully mechanized mining faces, their technological development directly impacts coal mine production, efficiency, and safety. High-power electric traction shearers, in particular, have become key equipment for modern, high-yield and high-efficiency mines. Furthermore, the use of medium-voltage explosion-proof VFD is crucial to adapt to the unique environment of mines.

Process difficulties

During the actual application and upgrade of coal shearers, users face a series of challenges and requirements.

• Equipment reliability: High temperatures and high vibrations in the operating environment make equipment prone to failure, reducing production efficiency.

• Heat dissipation and explosion-proof design: The explosion-proof VFD onboard the coal shearer operates in a confined space underground, with limited installation space. This requires a compact VFD with water cooling for easy integration into explosion-proof cabinets.

• Regenerated energy management: Energy feedback is required to suit the shearer's steep working face mining.

INVT solution

To meet the application needs of coal mining machines, INVT has launched the GD1000 series VFDs specifically designed for coal mining machines. The double drum coal shearer has a drum at each end. The right drum cuts the top coal, and the left drum cuts the bottom coal, each drum is driven by an electric motor, a typical solution is to use one GD1000 to drive two motors.

• Balanced control of the two motors ensures smooth operation of the coal shearer.

• The VFD's excellent low-frequency torque characteristics enable heavy-load starting.

• Four-quadrant design enables energy regeneration, making it suitable for the complex working conditions of coal mining faces.

• Equipped with RS485, CANopen, Profibus-DP, and Profinet communication protocols, it facilitates communication with a host computer and enables real-time monitoring.

• 8G high vibration level design meets the strong vibration requirements of on-site working conditions.

• Water-cooled surface-mount design with single-side accessibility facilitates system installation, maintenance, and heat dissipation.

• ±20% wide grid design meets the harsh power grid environment of underground mines.

• Comprehensive protection features include overvoltage, overcurrent, phase loss, overload, and overheat.

Fig. 1 Systeme topology

Fig.2 Coal shearer

Fig.3 Coal shearer

Fig.4 GD1000 dedicated VFD for mining industry

Customer benefit

Improved Operating Efficiency: The heavy-duty design features rapid acceleration and deceleration, fast forward and reverse switching, and fast torque response, improving operating efficiency.

Safe and Reliable Operation: Strictly adhering to mining standards, it can meet the high-vibration applications of coal mining machines and reduce equipment downtime.

Significant Energy Saving and Consumption Reduction: Supporting four-quadrant operation enables bidirectional energy flow and returns energy to the grid during braking, helping to reduce system energy consumption.

Easy Maintenance and System Integration: The highly integrated design reduces maintenance space and space requirements during product integration.

Conclusion

Based on years of experience in mining equipment applications and tailored to the specific characteristics of mining applications, INVT's mining industry products offer a comprehensive range of transmission products, providing professional system solutions for the mining industry. With voltage levels covering 660V, 1140V, and 3300V, and a power range of 22kW-2500kW, these products are widely used in mine hoists, belt conveyors, scrapers, emulsion pumps, fans, shearers, continuous miners, bolters, shuttle cars, and other mining electrical equipment. These products are used underground in large domestic coal mines and are exported to mines in countries such as Vietnam, India, and Australia.