ABB announced that it will deliver the drive systems for 2 high pressure grinding rolls to ThyssenKrupp Polysius for the Karara Iron Ore Project in Western Australia.

Located 225 kilometers east of Geraldton, the Karara Iron Ore project is being developed through 50:50 JV between Gindalbie Metals and Chinese steel producer, Anshan Iron & Steel Group Corporation. Starting in 2011, Karara will deliver approximately 10 mega tonnes per annum of iron products, comprising 8 mega tonne per annum of high grade magnetite concentrate and blast furnace quality pellets and 2 mega tonne per annum of direct shipping ore hematite.

The new industrial complex includes a conventional open pit operation and involves mining, crushing, milling and concentration of Magnetite ore, then transportation by rail to the Port of Geraldton for export. The project has a resource base of approximately 522 million tonnes magnetite reserve, plus 1.853 billion tonnes magnetite resource, 10.9 million tonne hematite reserve and a 16.2 million tonne hematite resource.

ABB’s delivery includes drive systems for 2 high pressure grinding rolls each consisting of two 2800 kW squirrel cage motors, 2 MV frequency converters and 2 converter transformers.

Today, HPGRs in the minerals as well as in the cement industry are often driven by variable speed drive systems. These provide operational flexibility through a variable speed range, making them ideal for the processing of inhomogeneous types of ore at variable throughput rates.

(Sourced from Mineralsprocessing.com)