Mechatronic System for the EKG-10m Digging Machine with Alternating-Current Drives

This article considers the results of designing and industrial operation of new mechatronic systems with ac motors and transistor frequency converters for EKG-10m digging machines. Vector control of induction motors ensures high dynamic performance and control quality indicators. The reduction in electricity consumption provided by modern ac drives as compared with conventional digging machines with Ward Leonard systems reaches 20–30%. In addition, modern ac drives have allowed the specific energy intensity of digging to be reduced. In all operation modes, the digging machine capacity factor is maintained constant and equal to a set value that ensures the optimal electromagnetic compatibility of the digging machine and the supply mains. The main component of interaction between the crew and the system is a friendly and easy-to-navigate graphical user interface. The touch screen combines the hardware and the software part and is used to control digging machine systems. The main crew can track all the performance indicators of the digging machine, its equipment status, supply mains characteristics, and data on faults. The information system provides full control of all the main operating parameters, work tool loads, and condition of all equipment components, as well as allowing analyzing and presenting in graphical and tabular form data on the main process parameters of the digging machine’s operation. These new digging machines are currently used at the Taibinskii open-pit mine (Kemerovo oblast) and at PJSC Polyus (Yeruda). The design results are presented. The experience in industrial manufacture and operation of mechatronic systems for single-bucket quarry digging machines with ac main motion drives is considered.