BATTERY AND ELECTRIC MACHINES
The ‘ Deswik of underground fleet EV electrification ’
Back in September , Ontario-based MEDATech launched what it said was the “ Deswik of underground fleet electric vehicle electrification ” with its Electric Vehicle Fleet Optimization Software ( EV-FOS ).
Built in MATLAB , MEDATech ’ s tool for simulation , data acquisition and industrial software development , EV-FOS approaches battery-electric vehicle optimisation in mines from the practical ( vehicle ) side . Its goal is to ensure the transition to electrification is profitable as well as good for the environment , the company said .
IM put some questions to Robert Rennie , MEDATech ’ s President , to find out more .
IM : How many studies have you run for mining companies / consultants with this software since launch ? RR : Launch may be a little too formal a word for where we are at with this software . To answer your question , we have done several ( maybe five ) studies using components of the software for very specific requests . We are – and have been for a year now – working closely with one of the major mining groups in the Sudbury Basin in resolving the puzzle on how to manage vehicles and charging for maximum productivity while trying to control costs using the complete software tool . I think it is understandable how many complex factors play into getting meaningful and accurate outputs .
IM : What has surprised you about the outcomes to date ? RR : From our experience working with the tool , the biggest and most consistent outcome that we continue to question is the huge reduction in capital equipment needed to meet production targets compared to diesel . We continue to question ourselves and look to improve or qualify our vehicle models with actual performance data . In fact , our next step is probably to engage a working mine running electric vehicles that we can run our computer models against and compare computed data to actual data .
IM : Since you started the project more than four years ago , have the outcome priorities – dollars / tonne , CO 2 reductions , energy cuts – changed ? Are miners starting to ‘ price ’ in these CO 2 reductions ? RR : Although the software is built largely around the parameters you have mentioned , I feel that the most common question we get is : ‘ how do we electrify ?’ Tying all the working pieces together is complicated and what operations want to see is the whole picture for how they meet the productivity numbers with these new combinations of technology such as different battery chemistries , charging types and the changes in people and infrastructure needed to support the electric technology . The drive to explore these electric options for mining is coming from the executive level where your three key factors above are being scrutinised , but , on the operations level , it keeps coming back as : ‘ How do we do this ? Show us how to set this up .’
IM : Are there any limitations to the software ? Can you work on open pit and underground machinery ? Battery and trolley ? What about hydrogen / FCEV vehicles ? RR : Currently we are working on an open-pit application with a consulting group and hope to have the first outputs of the software by the end of February . The software can handle the addition of trolley technology as a source of energy supply to the vehicle models and , as well , the vehicle models can be adapted to hydrogen fuel cells .
IM : How often are the inputs updated to factor in real-time cost info for ventilation , labour , energy , etc ? RR : These costs are all inputs and vary from operation to operation so the answer to your question is every time we engage in a new study . The more complex issue is the cost of ventilation . This , as you probably know , is a very complex analysis and , for sure , is outside the software capabilities . Mining companies spend a lot of money designing the ventilation system and dealing with the complexity of the underground environment . What we can do is develop a clear picture of the heat generation of an electric fleet from operating the vehicles and , as well , charging the vehicles as compared to diesel . We have to factor in that because an electric vehicle can travel faster up a ramp and , in some cases , they will produce more dust in the ramp .
Again , advantages and disadvantages of moving to an electric fleet are not always obvious . The downside needs to be clearly understood and managed because I do not feel we , as humans , can ignore any longer the health and safety benefits of an emissions-free environment for the workforce underground . On surface applications , mankind simply needs to stop burning fossil fuels to mine minerals . Easier said than done , but I think we are all seeing the impact of the last 100 years in our weather trends . and MacLean ' s support vehicles are in progress .
The Canada Mining Innovation Council ( CMIC ), which is helping to manage the collaboration , was instrumental in BluVein getting international mining company backing .
The current technology and commercialreadiness works will culminate in a technology pilot site in partnership with the mining company and OEM partners . BluVein is currently assessing a number of potential sites with a plan to start a trial in late-2022 .
Late-stage discussions are ongoing with a potential mining site in South Australia close to Adelaide . The intention is to simulate an underground haulage environment on a steep open-pit ramp section . This will facilitate easier technical validation works and easier access for visitors to the pilot site . This proposed site is on a mine that is in the early stages of developing an underground operation also , so , all going well , the BluVein pilot could easily extend into underground operations when ready , according to BluVein .
Additional test facilities for BluVein will likely be developed near to its base in Brisbane , Queensland , to support the accelerated technology development timelines , but being able to witness the technology at a real mining site will provide significant industry impact .
The company hopes to have the current four major OEMs represented at the pilot site with their heavy-duty battery vehicle offerings .
The company added : “ Given the inefficiencies with static charging and battery swapping , the industry has pushed the major OEMs for more and more range / storage capacity to no avail . In underground we have 8-10 t batteries that still only give a short burst of energy , inadequate to power a loaded truck up the incline of a moderately deep mine . And the open-pit truck manufacturers are only just starting to wrap their heads around the problems in creating viable large open-pit trucks . BluVein saw a missing piece in the mine electrification jigsaw puzzle – dynamic charging .”
BluVein ’ s patented safe dynamic charging technology changes the paradigm by enabling lower cost , high productivity electrification of even the heaviest duty applications in mining , the company said . This could see renewable electricity from wind , solar , geothermal and hydro being used directly to power heavy mining fleets . The IP-rated slotted rail can be installed safely in confined underground environments , and near to the ground in open pits and on pit ramps , dramatically reducing the cost and complexities of installations compared with
42 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2022