ABB has recently commissioned the world’s largest high-pressure grinding roll (HPGR) drive system for the Boddington Gold Mine Expansion project in Western Australia.
Newmont Mining Corp, America’s biggest gold producer, has begun production at its Boddington mine, located about 130 km south-east of Perth. The original, mainly oxide open-pit mine was closed at the end of 2001. Recent exploration identified an extensive 19.57 million ounce gold bedrock resource, the basis of the Boddington Gold Mine expansion project.
Thyssen Krupp Polysius and ABB worked together to make the Boddington Gold Mine operational once again. The newly reopened mine is expected to operate for at least 20 years, with full production of more than 1 million ounces of gold per year to be reached during 2010, making it Australia’s biggest producing goldmine.
ABB drive systems are an essential part of the plant design. The delivery comprised a pair of 2800 kW HPGR units of two converter transformers, two medium-voltage frequency converters and two squirrel cage induction motors. This will be the largest HPGR drive system in operation anywhere in the world.
By optimising the grinding process, the drives will help the plant reduce its energy consumption. The variable speed drive system provides operational flexibility through a variable speed range to process inhomogeneous types of ore at different throughput rates.