JB Switchgear Solutions was recently awarded a contract to design, manufacture, and supply of four containerised substations for the Gbeni site of Sierra Rutile’s mining operations.

THE PANELS & CONTAINERS

• This was a unique project since the containers each had to house a MV/LV dry type transformer, and electrical switchgear. These containerised MCC’s/Substations have been put onto a skid, and these skids were built to be pulled or moved around the mining site.
• The substations/skids were broken up into 4 areas, 2 x booster Skids/substations, 1 x Mining Inpit Skid/Substation and a Scrubber Skid/Substation.
• The containers for the booster skid and Mining Inpit were made into 7m length, and they were then split at the mid-point by a partition wall, so that one side housed the dry-type transformer and the other side had to house the LV Panels. (MCC, UPS, DB, PFC)

BOOSTER SUBSTATIONS

• These containers were a unique 7m in length and each housed an 800 kVA dry type transformer on the one side of the container and the LV panels on the other side.
• The LV section housed the MCC, which consisted of an incomer rated at 1250A, which fed 2 x 260 kW free standing VSD’s in the container. These VSD’s were used for the slurry pumps on the skid.
• The LV section of the container housed a 250A PFC panel as well, that was fed from the MCC.

MOBILE MINING UNIT / MINING INPIT SUBSTATION

• This container was a unique 7m in length as well and housed a 1600 kVA dry type transformer on the one side of the container.
• The LV section housed the MCC, which consisted of an incomer rated at 2000A, which fed 2 x 160 kW soft starters, as well as a 355kW free standing VSD, which is used for the gravel pump.
• The LV section of the container housed a 400A PFC panel, also fed from the MCC.

SCRUBBER SUBSTATION

• This was initially a 12m container, but due to skid restraints, the container was cut into half, that is, it now compiled of 2 containers, with one container feeding the MCC panels in the other container via an encapsulated busbar system.
• Same set up like the previous containers, the one 6m container was cut into half, to accommodate the 2000 kVA dry type transformer, which fed the LV panel with an encapsulated bus-bar system.
• The LV section housed the MCC which featured a 2500A incomer.
• The panel consisted of 15 DOL starters, plus a few feeders.
• The second incomer had a second incomer rated at 2500A as well, which was fed from the 1st container.
• This container housed 1 x 200kW wall mounted VSD (water booster pump), 2 x 260 kW VSD’s (trommel underflow pump) and 2 X 330 kW VSD’s (Scrubber trommel).
• The LV section of the container housed a 400A PFC panel, also fed from the MCC.