MINING ENGINES
Clean cylinders
Volvo Penta , as part of the wider Volvo Group , has been talking up the use of various propulsion power alternatives across a wide range of industries .
It has pledged to offer electrified solutions to its customers soon , but it is also making sure its current diesel-powered line-up is the cleanest it can possibly be with Stage V optionality and the potential use of cleaner fuels .
Last year it launched its Stage V / Tier 4 Final D16 engine , heralding benefits such as a reduction of up to 10 % in fuel consumption , low to high-end torque and high-altitude performance .
It said the D16 was its most powerful , versatile engine to date and had been designed to meet the needs of customers working in a range of demanding environments – mining included .
The 16-litre D16 ( TWD1683VE ) diesel engine delivers 585 kW of power and 3,650 Nm peak torque at 1,900 rpm , and already features in Sandvik ’ s line-up , being available with , for example , the 63-t Toro™ TH663i underground mining truck .
The engine can also use paraffinic diesel fuels that meet the requirements of the EN 15940 standard without any modifications . As mentioned , renewable paraffinic diesel fuel
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Volvo Penta recently launched its Stage V / Tier 4 Final D16 engine , heralding benefits such as a reduction of up to 10 % in fuel consumption , low to high-end torque and high-altitude performance
considerably reduces operators ’ greenhouse gas footprints , and the emissions of CO , CO2 , hydrocarbons , NO x and DPM in the engine exhaust .
Across the Volvo Group , recent developments have included the trialling of the world ’ s first fuel cell articulated hauler prototype , the Volvo HX04 , in addition to continuing to see good results from the deployment of a battery-electric Volvo FMX truck at Kaunis Iron ’ s operations in northern Sweden . This comes on top of a pact between Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Holcim Switzerland to jointly test and further develop the use of autonomous , electric and cabless haulers in a limestone quarry .
hydraGEN adoption
In addition to brandnew and engine manufacturer-led retrofit options , a handful of other aftermarket engine solutions have emerged seeking to lower costs , boost production and lower emissions . dynaCERT says it has developed the next generation of carbon emission reduction technology for diesel engines , which can also provide significant fuel
savings to the operator .
The HydraGEN™ Technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion , resulting in lower carbon emissions , dynaCERT says .
Validated through both on-road and accredited third-party testing , dynaCERT says its HydraGEN technology produced results of : n An up to 19.2 % reduction in fuel consumption ; n An up to 88.7 % reduction in NO x emissions ; n An up to 46.7 % reduction in CO emissions ; n An up to 9.6 % reduction in CO 2 emissions ; n An up to 57.1 % reduction in THC emissions ; and n An up to 55.3 % reduction in diesel particulate matter . This came on top of increased engine power and torque , extended engine and oil life ( lower maintenance costs ), an up to 60 % reduction in the use of Diesel Exhaust Fluid usage and a reduction of Diesel Particulate Filter replacements . dynaCERT says seven of its HydraGEN Technology Units ( HG1R , 4C and 6C units ) are now being installed at open-pit mines in Peru , Argentina and Brazil , offering these mining companies an interim solution they can bolt onto existing engines .
HydraGEN Technology units will be installed at these mines on various equipment , including Cat 793 and 777 haul trucks and a large 4.5 MW diesel generator with a Cat C280-16 engine .
Jim Payne , President and CEO of dynaCERT , said : “ Our proprietary and patented HydraGEN technology is designed to reduce fuel consumption in internal combustion engines and reduce carbon and NO x emissions : so important to providing a global solution to reduce pollution .”
The right blend
In its recently released 2021 financial results , Fresnillo confirmed it had completed the conversion of its haul truck fleet at the Herradura gold mine in Mexico to a dual-fuel system able to leverage both diesel and liquefied natural gas ( LNG ).
The company started its dual-fuel journey all the way back in 2016 when , together with Caterpillar , it piloted the mining OEM ’ s Dynamic Gas Blending™ ( DGB ) dual-fuel technology on two prototype trucks as part of a strategy at Herradura to reduce both its carbon footprint and costs .
Caterpillar ’ s dual-fuel DGB technology works by blending lower cost LNG with diesel fuel , with the resultant improvements in fuel , emissions and maintenance adding up to millions of dollars each year in cost savings , the mining OEM says .
Following some good initial results from
54 International Mining | JULY 2022