DETERMINATION OF THE OPERATING POWER OF THE ROTOR OF THE ERC-1400 TYPE BUCKET WHEEL EXCAVATOR USING NUMERICAL METHODS

Abstract: In the paper, a new approach – using a virtual model and numerical method – is presented, to determine the operating power of the rotor of the ERC1400 model bucket wheel excavator (BWEs) used in the open-pit lignite mines of Oltenia region in Romania. The developed method enables more functional analyses of the subsystems of the BWEs, to reduce the specific energy consumption during excavation, to improve the cutting and loading system, and thus the excavation capacity. The authors created a model equipped with 18 buckets using SolidWorks, simulated the weight of excavated material, inertias, and cutting resistance, in order to determine the operating power variation, with more accurate results as compared to the analytical calculations usually used. Key words: Bucket-wheel excavator, operating power, energy balance, rotor, ERC-1400, simulation, cutting force, excavation.