WORLD PROSPECTS
Rolls-Royce truck engine repower project at Los Bronces
Rolls-Royce Solutions and its Chile-based distributor Detroit Chile S . A . have helped lower emissions associated with Anglo American ’ s Los Bronces haulage operation thanks to a strategic engine repowering project on its 30-strong fleet of Komatsu 930E haul trucks .
The project for Los Bronces , a copper mine in Chile , originated with the mining company looking to comply with incoming emission guidelines for mine operations , as well as Anglo American ’ s own plans to make operations increasingly sustainable over the long term .
For the fleet at the Chile mine , the company was looking at engines to repower the trucks that would meet the emissions targets without compromising performance . Together with Detroit Chile S . A ., the company found what it was looking for in the mtu Series 16V 4000 C0 5 , which , in addition to significant emission savings , also offered other benefits for operations in the South American mine , Rolls-Royce says .
This project kicked off back in January 2018 , with all 30 trucks in the fleet having now been equipped with mtu engines . An operating time of around 24,000 hours was calculated for each engine and , up to today , this fleet has surpassed 720,000 cumulative operating hours .
“ Another and undoubtedly the biggest benefit of this repower project is the cleaner operation of these engines , or the tremendous reduction of emissions ,” Rolls-Royce says . “ To comply with local emissions regulations , the previous engines required to add a selective catalytic reduction ( SCR ) system to meet Tier 4 emissions .
This includes additional maintenance and extra failure points that impact truck operation , the use of Diesel Exhaust Fluid and the potential for the catalyst to become contaminated at any time through regular operation of the truck , requiring replacement of the catalyst .
“ Since the mtu engine meets Tier 4 emissions without the SCR system , this results in less downtime , less maintenance and lower operating costs .”
With the mtu Series 16V 4000 C0 5 engines , Anglo American is cutting CO 2 , particulate
matter and nitrogen oxide emissions , according to Rolls-Royce . These engines comply with US EPA Tier 4 regulations , they consume less fuel than Tier 2 engines and still deliver the same power as previous engines .
Since the start of the repower project in
January 2018 , around 9,960 t of CO2 , 91 t of particulate matter and over 3,000 t of nitrogen oxide have been eliminated , according to Rolls-Royce . As a result , the mining haul trucks meet local emission targets and bring Anglo Americans operations at the Los Bronces mine closer to the goal of net zero .
Rolls-Royce said : “ An important factor in the decision for our solutions was the holistic approach : together with Detroit Chile
S . A ., we were able to provide engines , repower kits and ongoing comprehensive service that gets the most out of the mtu engine .
“ The first of the trucks recently achieved over 24,000 hours of operating time , in mid-2023 , and is still operating as expected . This proves the project is a strong , sustainable milestone not only for Anglo American , but also for other mining companies . The future has already begun and together , we are providing a cleaner future for the world .” https :// www . mtu-solutions . com
Epiroc ’ s Batteries with Service concept with ownership
Electrification solutions from Epiroc support mining customers as they transition towards using Battery Electric Vehicles ( BEV ). The latest addition to the portfolio is a new type of service agreement offering an opportunity for customers to own the battery and at the same time benefit from the latest updates and service .
Batteries with Service is a service concept created for Epiroc batteries and can be applied on Epiroc battery powered equipment as well as other OEMs , using batteries from Epiroc . It makes it possible to own the complete equipment ( machine and battery ) and still benefit from a carefree solution for battery service , with extended warranty . The agreement Epiroc says is suitable for both surface and underground equipment and has been developed based on market demands .
“ More and more customers want to have the full ownership of the complete equipment including battery . With our new concept , this is made easier ,” says Daniel Jonsson , Global Product Manager – Battery at Epiroc .
Batteries with Service offers all the benefits from the already available offering Batteries as a Service ( BaaS ), such as battery telematics , equipment audits and extended warranty . “ With battery telematics we can predict the battery health , improve and adapt based on the insights we get ,” says Jonsson . He continues : “ We also have all battery data available at the battery for our technicians in order to always be informed of the health .”
Equipment audits are proactive , professional inspections that reduce unplanned downtime and production losses . “ It boosts productivity and improves safety . Batteries with Service is offering an extended warranty that covers costs for the premature failure of parts and components . Another vital part of Batteries with Service is safety and maintenance guidance from experienced personnel , especially trained to service Epiroc batteries .”
For Epiroc , circularity is a cornerstone within the electrification business and the company offers discounts on battery subpacks when the
customer returns used Epiroc batteries for recycling . This enables a circular approach on a linear business model , benefitting both the customer and the green transition .
“ We are very pleased to be able to offer this service concept . With this offer we safeguard the introduction of our batteries and can give our customers peace of mind in this important technology shift ,” Jonsson concludes . https :// www . epiroc . com
6 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2024