We were engaged by Fortescue to undertake the detailed design for the replacement of its Overland Variable Speed Drive (VSD) and stacker conveyors at its Christmas Creek operations.
Christmas Creek’s Ore Processing Facility 2 (OPF 2) facility utilises a single infeed conveyor system to transfer ore from the primary crusher circuit into the Scrubbing and Screening process. The conveyor system contains two conveyors in series including an Overland Conveyor and Stacker Conveyor.
In total, there are 5 VSD-driven motors throughout the conveyor system which are used to drive the conveyor belt. The Overland Conveyor contains 3 identical 1000kW 690V drive motors used to drive the conveyor whilst the stacker contains two 1000kW 690V motors. Each of these motors is electrically equivalent to one another.
The purpose of the project is to replace the existing Vacon VSD units with a single ABB multidrive system incorporating ABB’s Mining Conveyor Control Program (MCCP). The replacement will require the rearrangement of the local marshalling panels, electrical and control cable installations, cable connections and MCC arrangements.
BGER’s Structural and Electrical/Instrumentation teams worked closely with Pirrpala, a 100% Aboriginal-owned engineering service provider to deliver the detailed design.
Together, we reviewed the client-supplied documents and drawings, including the structural switch room assessment for the new VSD, the switch room HVAC assessment for the new VSD and the associated structural and HVAC design.
Our teams successfully overcame the project challenges and completed the scope with positive client feedback.
