Soft starters for the Gold Mining Industry

Driving water pumps 
1200 and 2100 meters below ground
Harmony Gold Mine, South Africa

The harsh environmental conditions and the high inrush current, directed the engineers at the Harmony Gold Mine towards a soft starting solution. When it came about to choose the correct soft-starter for a 2100 meters below ground level, the ultimate choice was Solcons' HRVS-DN. Since the power grid was unstable, it was very important to eliminate the high inrush current and start-up torque on every start, and to ensure the ability to soft-stop these pumps to eliminate damaging water hammer that threatens the pipe joints and valves with every stop.

Solcon soft-starters not only soft-start and soft-stop, but also provide start and stop curves that increase the life expectancy of both, the pumps and the piping infrastructure. The built in Motor Protection system and the additional motor protection relay provided comprehensive protection to both, the motor and the soft-starter.