BATTERY AND ELECTRIC MACHINES
“ It is a technological breakthrough for KGHM ,” Andrzej Czajkowski , a Vice Chairman of the Management Board at Mine Master , said of the KGHM trials . “ Very soon , in the same mine , we will be testing an electric drill rig – the Face Master 1.7LE .
“ What is special about this machine ( the Face Master 1.7LE ) is that even with the battery charger built on , it is still the lowest in its class – with the tramming height of 1.65 m adapted to heavy-duty mining excavations in a room and pillar system , with slopes of up to 15 °.”
The Face Master 1.7LE is designed to drill 41- 76 mm diameter blast holes over net lengths of 3.2 m , in heights above 1.7 m . The ergonomic , closed , air-conditioned cabin gives the operator good visibility even in lowered positions and , for better visibility during drilling , the cabin can also be raised .
The battery-electric drive technology – the same as on the RM1.8KE bolter – ensures significant noise , as well as DPM , NOx and CO 2 gas emission reductions , reducing ventilation needs while improving operator comfort and safety .
The telescopic boom ’ s design allows for the replacement of all wear slides in around 15 minutes without the need to disassemble the boom . This innovative , patented solution significantly improves the ease of maintenance and reduces the downtime of the machine significantly .
More precise and effective drilling can be conducted with the Face Master 1.7LE through an optional drilling monitoring system . Mine Master can equip this underground drill rig with an easy and simple Drilling Monitoring System or with more advanced Feeder Guiding System . Both systems are well suited for drilling in a room and pillar mining context , it said .
Both the bolter and the rig provide for similar tramming distance and speed as their diesel equivalents , the company added .
Narrowed focus
Aramine , a specialist in narrow-vein mining equipment design and production , is in the process of launching a battery-powered drill rig of its own .
The DM901HBE miniDriller ® is due to be released at the end of this year . Based off the design of the diesel-powered DM901HDE miniDriller , the machine will complement the battery-powered L140B miniLoader ® , launched by Aramine in 2018 , Marc Melkonian , President of Aramine , says .
To adapt its battery technology to the rig , Aramine ’ s R & D department redesigned the kinematic chain to optimise the machine energy consumption , according to the company .
This rig will retain the advantages that come with the diesel-powered equivalent , such as a very low centre of gravity and two front stabilisers for optimal stability .
“ Thanks to this great stability , the DM901HBE will be able to achieve face or vertical drilling ,” the company said . “ As with the diesel version , the machine will be designed with various modular elements allowing easy assembly and disassembly in order to be able to squeeze through the narrowest of mines .”
The DM901HBE will use the battery for tramming , hydraulic controls for steering , brakes and the boom , and be powered by the mine ’ s electrical network for drilling . The battery pack will be fixed , with chargers mounted on board that provide recharging during drilling .
On top of this , the company is working on a miniDumper ® T500B based off the dieselpowered-equivalent miniDumper T500D . This machine has a 4.2-t payload capacity and is suited to narrow-vein mining operations as the vehicle ’ s width is just 1.45-1.6 m .
Electrification integration
Mine electrification is nothing new for ABB and its electrical , control and instrumentation ( EC & I ) business . Over the last 45 years , it has provided integrated electrical solutions for the entire processing area , as well as draglines , shovels and excavators in open-pit mining and facilitated hoist and complex ventilation projects at underground mines .
The company is looking to drive the move towards the all-electric mine by incorporating the