AM/NS India is a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel with a crude steel capacity of 9 million tons per year. One of the machines the joint venture uses in its plant in Hazira, Gujarat, India is the Keestrack K5e screen. The machine extracts coke from 6 to 60 millimetres by screening the 0- to 80-millimetre coke used in the Corex plant and is powered by electric power.
Corex is the smelting-reduction process which allows for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly production of hot metal from iron ore and coal.
"The Keestrack K5e scalper is producing up to 50 tons an hour, which is 20 tons an hour more than its predecessor," says Suraj Mehta, section in charge of the material handling at AM/NS India.
AM/NS India wants to create a more sustainable steel industry in India. The company wants to place safety, innovation, and technology at the heart of its operations.
"The Keestrack K5e, which can be driven by electric plug in or via its own diesel/genset fits perfectly in this vision as it saves a lot of fuel cost and runs very efficiently," continues Suraj Mehta. "The plug-in electric and hybrid drive system and the total cost of ownership of the Keestrack scalper were taken into consideration when deciding on the replacement of the previous equipment. Also the technical expertise and service and support of the Keestrack dealer, CSB Solutions Pvt Ltd., showed us clearly the advantages of the K5e like the ease to transport the K5e, the capacity and screening accuracy due to its long screen deck and, very importantly, the accessibility and ease of maintenance."
The K5 screen weighs around 30 to 33 tons and is available in hydraulic, electric, and ZERO drive versions. The electric configuration is charged by plug-in electronics with an onboard diesel/genset as a backup. With the ZERO drive version, there is no combustion engine on board but only electric motors and only functions when powered electric either by mains connection or by an external diesel alternator.
The K5 is in the mid-range of Keestrack's scalper lineup. An extensive choice of screen media for the 5000 x 1500 mm double-deck screen box and the adjustable screen angle help to guarantee a wide range of applications including efficient rock scalping, soil processing with a capacity of up to 450 tph, screening construction waste, and the production of end products in three fraction sizes.
The K5 series is optimized for transport. All conveyors and other components can be folded for low-bed transport (transport width 2,600 mm). On-site, the unit without support legs is quickly operational.
The K5e uses a 105 kVA generator which is connected to the diesel engine and directly supplies all electrical consumers (drum motors, ancillaries, lighting, etc.). All hydraulic components (plate apron feeder, screen drive, lifting cylinders, and track drive) are powered by a central 45 kW unit consisting of an electric motor and load-sensing hydraulics.
The diesel-electric drive concept reduces peak loads, which are typically encountered by diesel-hydraulic systems, and contributes largely to low fuel consumption in diesel operation. This efficiency can be further increased by connecting downstream equipment via the external plug-out connection of the K5e, an electric-driven stacker for example.
Connecting the Keestrack K5e to existing electric mains, a stand-alone generator, or the sufficiently strong plug-out connection of an upstream crusher is a simple task. Once the plant has been roughly positioned, the onboard diesel engine can be switched off. After attaching the three-phase plug connection, the Keestrack control system handles the entire energy management. Even without starting the diesel engine, it is still possible to reposition the screener via the track drive or use the hydraulic-driven systems.
