Energy Efficiency Using a VSD in a Mining Installation, Analysis, and Measured Results

Energy Efficiency has been in the spotlight of electrical engineering, driving research for technological advances and modernization of installed industrial applications. Electrical equipment suppliers and manufacturers have often acted as promotors of using Variable Speed Drives with Energy Savings to lower the end user’s energy bill and quickly obtain a return on investment. Many offline and online tools serve as means to estimate energy savings when changing a Direct-on-Line motor-driven application to use Variable Speed Drives to reduce energy consumption by correctly adjusting speed and Torque to what the load indeed requires, instead of using throttling in the case of pumps or dampers in the case of fans. However, it is rare to find a complete compilation from the initial study case to installation and operation, estimating energy savings compared to the actual measured outcome. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive assessment, analysis, recommendation, implementation, and onsite results.