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UG LOAD AND HAUL
with highest power per weight ratio, tractive
effort and breakout force and superb ergonomics
and visibility we can reach substantial
productivity gains. Further variants of the
machine are in development including the hard
rock version with a high reach z-link for truck
loading.” GHH also sees big potential in the
electric version of the 21 t machine, the LF-21HE,
for both potash room and pillar production as
well as block caving and stoping.
GHH has already has about sixty Tier 4 interim
and Final (about 50/50) engines in operation. The
design challenge is especially the large aftertreatment system (SCR including urea tanks).
“Although we have fitted these systems to both
SLP and standard LHDs we have always managed
to keep the original profile. The Tier 4 Final
engines that we have in operation are extremely
reliable and we are getting very good results. On
all of our new developments we design directly
for Tier 4 and downgrade the engines if required
(such as for less regulated markets). Regarding
maintenance there is some extra training
required but no complications have been found
so far. For our clients, the new engine generation
makes a substantial difference for ventilation and
thus cost. Therefore, increased complexity is not
a real issue.”
On technology, Riedel concludes: “Besides
factors such as safety, ergonomics and cost per
tonne our main focus is differentiation through
high quality customised solutions. However, in a
direct benchmark we seek differentiation through
robustness (plain-tech) and additionally
performance by means of our hydrostatic
drivetrains. Although new electric drives are
coming up in our industry the benefit of
hydrostatics are proven in maintainability even in
remote areas. The hydrostatic drive drastically
reduces the operating cost by reducing fuel
consumption, tyre wear, brake wear, etc.”
Besides its home market in Germany the
largest GHH fleets are running in South Africa
and Zimbabwe. Besides Africa, GHH Fahrzeuge
says it is developing markets in North and South
America as well as Asia.
The most important GHH range in terms of
sales is between 7 and 14 t LHD and it will remain
that way. However, besides Australia (where large
LHDs are common) demand for larger machines
is growing in other markets as well in order to
increase productivity.
GE Mining
The GE underground hard rock program
accelerated when the GE-Fairchild LHD-5-LB
model was tested at the IAMGOLD Westwood
gold mine. The model was a part of a GE
FastWorks program, designed to quickly secure
customer feedback on performance and tbased
on the overall need for a battery propelled LHD in
34 International Mining | JUNE 2016
the market. As such, it was essentially an
upgraded coal scoop without all the necessary
features required for a hard rock LHD.
Sid Gaitonde, Senior Product Manager,
underground propulsion at GE Mining states:
“The trial was so successful with positive reviews
from IAMGOLD and other customers that GE
developed a true battery propelled LHD for UG
hard rock – the 7T BLHD.”
The features of the 7T LHD that are different
from the 5T model include the increased capacity
to 7T (3.1 m3 bucket); and a new state-of-the-art
GE Invertex Drive System allowing for ergonomic
and intuitive operator controls, optimised battery
endurance for longer shifts and automation
readiness. A new operator display provides a full
visual indication of critical vehicle system status,
as well as more intuitive and faster trouble
shooting. It is also multi-language compatible.
It has a Quick Battery Change System for
maximum availability, and improved overall
vehicle speed increasing productivity with better
control for downhill grades; and blended braking
for better regenerative charging and reduced
brake wear. It also has a higher bucket lift height
to clear most truck beds up to 25 t.
GE conducted an in-depth study on the
available technologies including hybrid and fuel
cells that are or will be available in the near
future and matched them against mining
customer needs. “Based on that research, GE has
selected on our 7T LHD, battery-electric with
exchange, as the system that best meets our
customers' needs and is flexible enough to adapt
to their operation as their mining plans change.”
The company cites several advantages to using
battery over diesel machines including safety,
with diesel particulates underground a significant
and serious health concern. “Our goal is to
eliminate underground diesel particulate. If we
can eliminate diesel particulate, it takes a known
carcinogen out of the air, making it safer for the
workers. Underground diesel equipment has a
high noise level, one of the major reasons for
early onset of deafness among underground
The features of the GE 7T LHD that are different
from the previous 5T model include the
increased capacity to 7T (3.1 m3 bucket); and a
new state-of-the-art GE Invertex Drive System
all owing for ergonomic and intuitive operator
controls, optimised battery endurance for
longer shifts and automation readiness
miners. Battery LHDs resolve a lot of these issues
as they generate no diesel particulates and
generate far less noise than diesel counterparts.”
GE also argues that underground ventilation
systems account for the single largest
underground mine expense (up to 40% of total
running costs) according to the Centre for
Excellence in Mining Innovation. “Most global
underground mines have a typical ventilation rate
of 100-125 cubic feet per minute for every
installed horsepower, as largely mandated by
legislature. Reducing the ventilation requirement
provides mine operators with options of reducing
ventilation power costs or using that same
ventilation to mine more locations
simultaneously. That increases their operational
efficiency and maximises production objectives.”
The electric propulsion system has fewer
moving parts than a diesel engine. It also does
not burn fuel or require constant maintenance
(such as filter and engine oil changes). “The
battery LHD increases the time between two
service intervals and reduces the duration of
each interval, increasing valuable working time
and machine availability.”
Electric motors are particularly good in certain
applications versus internal combustion engines
due to their torque curve as demonstrated on
locomotives and surface haul trucks. This allows
the battery LHD to load in shorter periods and
get a better speed on grade vs diesel LHDs. This
reduces overall cycle time and improves
productivity.
Finally, reduced ventilation and cooling
requirements saves mines from adding or
upgrading their ventilation and cooling
infrastructure, thanks to the elimination of diesel
particulates. “It also allows the mine to develop