The Indonesian mining company Bukit Asam expands its operations at Tanjung Enim Coal Mine in Sumatra, Indonesia. For ten new belt conveyors at Tanjung Enim, Bukit Asam deploys 14 TVVS fluid couplings from 55-315 kW. In the past, the mine operator has always been pleased with the reliability of its already installed Voith fluid couplings. They ensure smooth start-ups day after day and a long service life for all components — especially the belts.

“We’re all very impressed with the performance of the TVVS constant-fill fluid couplings. They’re very easy to maintain — only oil changes are needed — and the reliability is just great,” says Kris Tjahajaning Tyas, manager of maintenance planning at Bukit Asam. The mine operates 24/7, and any equipment downtime means loss of production. In older sections of the mine they’ve been using TVVS on belt conveyors since 1997 — without any unplanned downtime. “Proven reliability is why we absolutely wanted to have Voith fluid couplings in the new conveyor drives as well,” adds Tatra Muis, senior manager of maintenance at Bukit Asam.

The Voith fluid couplings are well suited for use in extreme environments and are completely insensitive to harsh conditions like dust, dirt and humidity. The fine coal dust in Tanjung Enim Coal Mine has no effect on performance. The couplings dampen torsional vibrations in the driveline and protect it against overload, extending the lifetime of the entire system. Because torque is transmitted by a fluid, the power transmission of the fluid couplings is wear-free, reducing maintenance to a minimum. Bukit Asam’s Muis and Tyas are happy with the many benefits that the fluid couplings provide. They also appreciate the useful advice and after-sales support from the local Voith team, along with unmatched know-how on the entire drive system.

The 13 existing belt conveyors in the Tanjung Enim Coal Mine still rely on TVVS fluid couplings (rated from 55 to 500 kW) that were installed more than 17 years ago. The mine has two coal handling facilities, with the longest belt conveyor having a length of 4,284 meters and a capacity of 1,700 tons per hour. The drive of this conveyor is equipped with three 315 kW motors and three fluid couplings, type 750 TVVS. In addition to the conveyor drives, the bucket wheel excavator drives in the Tanjung Enim Coal Mine are equipped with five 750 kW fluid couplings, Type T, that dampen vibrations and protect the driveline from damage also in case of frequently occurring overload.

Tanjung Enim Coal Mine, located in Sumatra, is one of the largest coal reserves of Asia and the world. The mine has been in operation for more than 90 years. In 2012, it produced nearly 15.5 million tons of coal, and the production forecast is higher in the coming years.