Electricity and Control July 2021

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

For more information visit: https://new.abb.com/africa always demanded the latest technology, and our solutions have been tried and tested in major markets such as North America and Europe. ABB has highlighted the role of high-efficiency motors and drives in reducing energy consumption. The technology to improve energy efficiency significantly is available right now. For example, high-efficiency motors and drives are well established and time-tested. I aim to increase the uptake of such technology, especially in mining, and to inform the market about the importance of our long-term sustainability goals as a future-orientated business. Of course, the benefits of greater energy efficiency go well beyond the fight against climate change. They contribute broadly to environmental conservation, cleaner air and water, better public health, energy independence and stronger economic growth and development. These considerations are critically important in the South African mining industry, which is taking significant strides towards a climate-smart future. □ drive shaft, the model provides a reliable representation of the drive system in the required level of detail. One possible application is the coupling of PLC and mechanical model via Sinamics DriveSim Basic. The calculated load profiles can then be loaded into the TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Selection Tool or the Sizer and a drive selection can be made. The applicable drive parameters and the interfaces, known from reality, are available for thesimulation. Theuser configuresonly thepart of the drive that is needed for specific simulation purposes. A time-consuming complete virtual commissioning of the drive is not required, saving time and costs. The models in Sinamics DriveSim Basic link seamlessly to the existing drive documentation and have been validated against the real Sinamics drives using the same test vectors. For easy handling, Sinamics DriveSim Basic is available as a standardised FMU (Functional Mockup Unit) model. The software offers the same FMU file for every Sinamics drive. TheSinamics S120 andG120drives including the motor can already be represented. Further drives will follow. This FMU can be imported directly into the simulation program used. Sinamics DriveSim Basic is compatible with many commercially available simulation programs, such as Simit, Simcenter Amesim, NX Motion or Matlab Simulink. Together with other virtual Siemens solutions such as Simatic S7 PLCSIM Advanced or NX Mechatronics Concept Designer, a consistent model- based development process can be implemented.

At a glance  Major trends transforming the mining industry include: -

continent, my plan is to maintain this strong foothold, while continuing to expand into the rest of the continent, where mining especially is an important driver for growth and socioeconomic development. The mining industry has the shift from diesel to electrification as a main power source - digitalisation, increasing productivity and facilitating maintenance - reducing total cost of ownership by standardising on high-efficiency motors and drives.

Eduardo Aparicio has worked at ABB Power Systems and Industrial Automation in Spain and was Local Business Line Manager for Energy Industries in Mexico. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Universidad UCLM in Spain and an MBA from IMF Business School and Universidad Nebrija, Madrid. He is an avid supporter of Real Madrid and the Springboks.

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

New software for easy drive simulation

With Sinamics DriveSim Basic, Siemens has introduced a new software solution with which, for the first time, drive constellations and their behaviour in machines and plants can be simulated, adapted and optimised. With the new solution, Siemens offers users a quick and easy entry into the simulation of drive technology and enables machine and plant manufacturers to accelerate the development phase in their own processes. Sinamics DriveSim Basic bridges the gap between logical and mechanical simulation. The application focus is on simulation support for the customer application – that is – the components that interact with the drive. The simulation provides answers to drive questions even before a concrete product selection has been made. For the virtual commissioning of the PLC control with known Profidrive telegrams or complex mechanics on the virtual

Sinamics DriveSim Basic allows for drive constellations and their behaviour in machines and plants to be simulated, adapted and optimised.

For more information visit: www.siemens.com

10 Electricity + Control JULY 2021