MINING ENGINES
Watt ’ s next ?
Cummins recently launched the high horsepower QSK95 ; a 95 litre engine for mining that is the most powerful engine ever to be developed for the ultraclass truck category
As Tier 4 Final and Stage V engine solutions take hold , Dan Gleeson looks into what might be powering mobile equipment in the future
The market dynamic in the mining engines space is set for its biggest shake-up in decades thanks to the evolving environmental and sustainability requirements miners are being shaped by .
On their way to achieving ambitious sustainability goals to 2030 , 2040 and 2050 , these companies will have to evaluate , test , trial and sign off on the application of new clean-andgreen technology only just starting to emerge .
Whether it is hydrogen fuel cell use , batteryelectric technology , trolley assist haulage , or the use of alternative fuels , it is clear there will be no silver bullet able to cater to all the needs and wants of mining companies .
Beau Lintereur , Executive Director , Global Mining Markets and Aftermarket at Cummins , told IM as much .
“ Diesel technology was this magical technology that worked above ground , underground , at elevation , at sea level , on trains , on buses , etc ,” he said . “ As a result , it has acted as a one-size-fits-all solution for a long time and we , in the industry , have got used to that .
“ We believe , in the future , the technology will probably fork and there will be competing technologies based on a number of factors such as what kind of energy you have at your mine site , what government policy or regulation you are operating under , the overarching company strategy , and what commodity you are mining .”
The indications from industry back up Lintereur ’ s assessment .
BHP has talked up the use of trolley assist technologies to achieve its net zero emission goals related to diesel displacement ; Anglo American has invested time and money in hydrogen haulage via its FCEV hybrid trials ; and Rio Tinto has said its preferred technology pathway is currently “ full battery-electric fleet with dynamic or fast charging technology to maintain fleet productivity ”.
The OEMs are yet to decide on their future clean technology routes but will be watching these developments closely .
Cummins , acknowledging such diversity of
thought , has built an offering and expertise that can cater to the majority of diesel ‘ alternatives ’ currently being considered on the market . No longer just a diesel engine supplier , the company has acquired or developed battery , fuel cell and hydrogen production technologies that could be leveraged across the space .
Lintereur thinks the internal combustion engine will still have something to offer miners for years to come , too .
In addition to increased uptake of US EPA Tier 4 Final and EU Stage V compliant engine technology – which incorporates Cummins ’ Selective Catalytic Reduction ( SCR ) technology – he sees more of the company ’ s engines incorporating alternative fuels .
“ There is growing interest in alternative fuels like HVO ( Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil ),” he said . “ That is an area of interest that could act as a ‘ bridge ’ technology for these miners aiming for net zero emissions down the line .”
Cummins has already approved the use of many bio and alternate fuels , carrying out testing on B30 variants in mining applications in Indonesia as well as HVO on some power generation and rail applications . “ We are currently involved in many conversations about the use of alternate fuels with miners and OEMs ,” Lintereur said . “ Cummins is testing new fuels every day . Once validated , new fuels get added to our list of approved fluids for Cummins engines .”
The company ’ s next generation of mining engines , set to come out of its global highhorsepower headquarters in Indiana , USA , in 2024 , is likely to factor in future alternative fuel use , Lintereur said .
“ Both with our existing and new product lines , we are testing and analysing the performance impact of these alternative fuels with our base engines and subsystems ,” he added .
Cummins Tier 4 Final / Stage V engine developments are already helping miners reduce their greenhouse gas emissions across the globe , with a recent highlight being the delivery of the first Stage-V-compliant Komatsu haul trucks , featuring Cummins engines , into Europe . These machines have been heading to Boliden ’ s operations in Sweden and Finland .
Cummins is also helping lower CO 2 emissions in ‘ deregulated ’ markets like Australia and South America by supplying the same Tier 4 Final / Stage V engine platform without the required exhaust aftertreatment options .
“ We are seeing a lot of benefit in terms of fuel economy , which means lower CO 2 emissions , by supplying these engines with that same Tier 4 Final / Stage V base design ,” Lintereur said .
Cummins recently covered these developments and others at its Virtual Mining Expo , an event that saw it launch the high
JULY 2021 | International Mining 67