UNDERGROUND LOAD & HAUL
Tech integration on the cards
Relatively recent technology developments in the underground load and haul space have set the stage for integration of these elements in an equation that equals more than the sum of their parts , Dan Gleeson reports
Having spoken about and discussed the potential of integrating automation and electrification into the underground load and haul mix , the industry is now at the point of adopting varying levels of technology to enable such a combination .
We have previously highlighted what RCT and Rham Equipment believed to be a world-first deployment of a fully autonomous batteryelectric Rham loader into the African mining sector , while other accolades have followed – the Nexgen SIMS partners demonstrating a working solution for autonomous material handling at the face , and Epiroc , ABB and Boliden successfully deploying the first fully battery-electric truck trolley system on an 800-m long underground mine test track in Sweden .
The regularity of these major industry milestones is increasing , indicating the ‘ first to be second ’ mentality that has plagued the mining industry may be fading as mining companies look to adopt new technology in the face of falling ore grades , higher sustainability hurdles , the dwindling talent pool and expectations of higher metal demand .
The foundation for future load and haul
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has also been ticking off milestones in the underground load and haul market , with one of the more recent achievements being the successful deployment of the world ’ s largest battery-electric underground truck at a mine .
The truck in question , a Sandvik TH665B , was recently on show at The Electric Mine 2024 conference in Perth , Western Australia , having undergone a trial at AngloGold Ashanti ’ s Sunrise Dam mine in the state ’ s Goldfields region .
Brian Huff , VP of New Technologies and Innovation for Sandvik ’ s Load and Haul Division , reported on some of the trial highlights during the May 2024 event saying that in Phase 1 , from September to May 2024 , the truck had matched the 85 % average availability of the Toro™ TH663i it was being compared with , while the TH665B had been able to climb 11 % faster on the climb than the diesel-equivalent truck . He also commented that the slower descent exhibited during Phase 1 was tied to the limits of the generation three battery in the machine – with an upgrade to the generation four battery ( which has 36 % more energy in the same envelope ) expected to alleviate this regeneration issue .
At the same time as revealing these trial highlights for the TH665B battery-electric truck , Huff delved into the company ’ s platform approach to electrification for all applications : an approach that looks to leverage off the electric driveline the company has refined over the years .
Testing of Sandvik ’ s Toro diesel-electric technology demonstrator truck has confirmed performance and productivity benefits over the diesel baseline
This could lead to an offering that included battery-electric vehicles with AutoSwap and charging systems , battery-trolley systems with AutoSwap compatibility and dieselelectric / hybrid equipment .
This platform approach was highlighted by Huff ’ s colleague , Jari Söderlund , Acting VP Product Line and R & D for the Load & Haul Division , when IM spoke to him in early June .
“ I believe the electric driveline is the foundation for the future , and that will give certain opportunities for different types of customers ,” he said .
Such an opinion was reinforced recently with Sandvik and Byrnecut ’ s agreement to develop new diesel-electric mining equipment – loaders and trucks – with the aim to boost sustainability , efficiency and productivity underground . This hinged off this driveline and the benefits it was expected to bring in a diesel-electric setup when compared with the diesel-powered equivalent .
“ If you think about BEVs and contractors , they might not want to invest in the electric infrastructure , so the diesel-electric , hybrid or cable-electric solutions might be more appealing ,” Söderlund said . “ That is where our platform thinking comes in , allowing companies to benefit from the work we are doing across all products that utilise that electric driveline . This commitment will also come with the ability to carry less spare parts , generate employee competencies that can be used across various electric driveline combinations , etc .”
16 International Mining | JULY 2024