Modern Mining November 2017

PRODUCT News

Becker Mining South Africa’s Proloc and ProBeck electronic protection and control relays have been designed for motor pro- Becker relays detect cable theft

re-set at the location of the alarm in order to confirm response by security. When the re-set facility is activated, the unit logs the date and time of the response.” This protection system, which requires only 220 V or 110 V to power the unit, can also be used on a standalone basis tomoni- tor cables without power. A battery backup facility for SMS communication provides power back-up for up to eight hours. Proloc and ProBeck electronic relays for motors have features for thermal overload protection, earth insulation lockout, fro- zen or vacuum contact failure and earth leakage protection. Other use-selectable features include short circuit, frequency and power factor measurement, as well as minimum load, over voltage and under voltage protection. Becker protection relays are also used to control pumps and motors based on water levels, valve position, temperature sensors, time of day and moisture content of the soil. These devices, which are able to detect dry run in boreholes, tanks and dams, can be programmed to automatically re-start pumps after a specified time or set level. Becker Mining South Africa, tel (+27 11) 617-6300 technologies, which matches well with my experience in working with various sectors and applications around Africa.” Responding to the trend towards greater use of renewable energy, HPS Europe has developed several dry-type transformers for renewable energy markets such as pho- tovoltaic, wind and biomass co-generation. Already, their impregnated transformers and inductors are installed in many inverter cubicles used in the conversion of wind or solar energy. “This will most certainly be a growth area for Trafo Power Solutions in Africa, as we see growing investment in energy genera- tion from renewable sources,”says Claassen. “Renewable energy is a very demanding application for any transformer; ambient temperatures tend to be high and the envi- ronment is often dusty. These transformers supply a 100 % non-linear inverter load that is high in harmonics.” Among the core benefits of the dry-type transformer design are its safety and cost- effectiveness. Due to the absence of oil as a coolant, the dry-type transformer is simple and safe, allowing it to be installed indoors without its own civils infrastructure. Trafo Power Solutions, tel (+27 11) 325-4007

tection, as well as cable theft detection, in diverse industries, including mining and quarrying. “Becker’s low voltage relays, with advanced technologies for dependable protection of electric motors used on pumps, fans, conveyors and compressors, can also be used as highly effective stand- alone cable protection systems to guard against cable theft,” says Frikkie Quirk, Senior General Manager, Electrical: Becker Mining South Africa. “Becker relays are programmed to detect cable theft by iden- tifying a change in impedance of cable up to 1 100 V connected to a motor or pump. “In the event of cable tampering, the unit sends an SMS, or activates an emer- gency alarmor siren. This system is capable of SCADA visualisation and is able to com- municate relevant information to a control room via an existing PLC. “The Becker cable theft detection sys- tem, with real time and date, is able to log up to 1 400 events, providing critical infor- mation, including when the alarm was activated and how long it took for some- one to respond. The system needs to be nology. As with HPS’s other facilities, it operates at the highest levels of quality and safety, compliant with global standards and certified by international bodies like CESI and TUV. Giacometti says HPS Europe is now working closely with Trafo Power Solutions in South Africa to boost its Africa footprint in a strategic and forward-looking manner. David Claassen, MD of Trafo Power Solutions, says that flexibility is the focus in the way that both HPS and Trafo approach their work. “The application will determine the enclosure design and the transformer design,” says Claassen. “In our modus ope- randi, ‘one size fits all’ definitely does not apply.” In fact, Trafo Power Solutions does not see itself as simply a distributor of prod- ucts. In line with the approach that HPS has always adopted, it is a solutions-driven company. “We work with customers to engineer technically appropriate and proven solu- tions for their applications,” he says. “HPS has long-standing experience in a host of

Becker Mining ‘s Proloc and ProBeck low voltage elec- tronic protection and control relays have been designed for motor protection for pumps and fans, as well as cable theft detection. Africa’s uptake of dry-type transformers set to grow

Already popular in North America and Europe, dry-type transformers could soon be seeing greater take-up in Africa through a more concerted entry and support strat- egy from global leader Hammond Power Solutions (HPS). According to Andrea Giacometti, Regional Sales Manager of HPS Europe, the company’s recent acquisition of key tech- nology pioneers Euroelettro Hammond and Marnate Trasformatori in Italy has placed it in a strong position to grow into Asia and Africa. It also acquired PETE in India, a lead- ing manufacturer of power and distribution transformers in Andhra Pradesh. “As the world’s largest producer of dry-type transformers, HPS’s Italian acqui- sitions have led to a strong technology base in Europe from which we have already expanded into Asia,” says Giacometti. “The technical excellence of our plants in Canada, US, Mexico, Italy and India give us the ability to recommend and apply the right solution for a range of applications and industries.” Marnate, for example, has manufactured dry-type transformers since the 1970s and has been at the forefront of cast-resin tech-

54  MODERN MINING  November 2017