BATTERY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Caterpillar R2900 XEs into two of its underground mining operations , with one of these recently arriving at its Granny Smith mine in the Gold Fields region of Western Australia .
Built on the platform of Caterpillar ’ s most popular underground loader , the R2900G , this 18.5-t-payload LHD features a switch reluctance electric drive system alongside a Cat C15 diesel engine , which offers up to 335 kW of power . The OEM says the machine comes with about 30 % increased fuel efficiency compared with the R2900G , with its lower engine revolutions per minute resulting in reduced fuel burn , heat , noise , vibration and exhaust emissions .
Gold Fields ’ purchase followed review of a number of field-follow trial reports in Australia , as well as tests involving a Komatsu WX22H ( formerly the Joy 22HD ), which uses a Kinetic Energy Storage System to capture and reuse braking energy from each of the four wheels .
MMG has also taken delivery of R2900 XE diesel-electric loaders for use at its Rosebery mine , in Tasmania , while Westgold Resources recently confirmed it would purchase another six of the diesel-electric vehicles after initially taking the first unit off the shelf .
Epiroc , meanwhile , is leveraging Gold Fields ’ diesel-electric experience , with the two companies currently developing the next generation of electric drive hybrid underground mine truck . They have been working in a formal partnership to develop and test a proof of concept for the 65-t class Minetruck MT65 E- Drive with the aim of having a prototype at Granny Smith this year .
The OEM is also working on testing a dieselelectric LHD with Australia-based mining contractor Byrnecut .
In Europe , meanwhile , Epiroc is looking at making the first battery-electric trolley truck system for underground mining a reality through its partnership with Boliden and ABB at the Kristineberg mine in Sweden .
Sandvik is treading a similarly diverse path in looking to its ultimate goal of fully electrifying its offering and the fleets of mine operators .
It has deliberately plotted a platform pathway , with the company confirming it is working on adding diesel-electric trucks and loaders to its existing battery-electric and diesel-powered base , utilising a modular design and commonalities in , for example , drivelines , hydraulics , electrics and spare parts .
This approach will make it easier for customers to transfer from diesel-electric equipment to battery-electric equipment , Juha Virta , VP Sales and Marketing for the Load and Haul Division within Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions , says .
“ Energy storage elements are also included in our development portfolio , enabling , for example , hybrid solutions , delivering positive results in the area of fuel consumption and the equipment performance ,” he told IM recently .
Aramine continues all-battery philosophy
Since the success of its L140B mini loader , which last year benefited from new , even more powerful batteries , Aramine says it has established itself as a key player in the battery-powered underground mining sector .
The Aramine team is now extending its range of electric machines with the arrival of the 4.5-t payload L440B LHD . Here , the team is applying the recipe that made the L140B such a success : an all-electric machine with no downtime for battery recharging ; no need for a specific electrical installation or significant power ; and no need to replace the batteries at a specific point in the mine .
The L440B will feature a number of technologies tested and approved on the L140B , including : n Aramine Energy Module integrating the batteries , the BMS and the battery charger , enabling recharging anywhere ; n Aramine QRS system : the only “ true hot-swap system ” that , Aramine says , allows you to replace an empty energy module with a charged one in less than five minutes ; n The ability to charge the empty energy module in less than four hours using just 400 V ( 2 x 47 A sockets ), while the machine is in operation with its module charged . This makes the L440B the safest and most compact loader in the world , with low emissions , Aramine claims , with the design of the chassis and combination of systems also making it the most productive and efficient loader for safely increasing productivity in underground mines with galleries from 7-14 cu . m .
“ Aramine technologies make it possible to benefit from all the advantages of electric machines ( better working conditions for operators , elimination of CO 2 emissions , etc ) without the disadvantages of battery replacement times , or dependence on a fixed structure for battery changes ,” the company told IM .
The 4.5-t payload L440B ( pictured here ) will feature a number of technologies tested and approved on Aramine ’ s smaller L140B loader
UG drilling direction
The ability to electrify aspects of the underground drilling process is also in play , with several companies having already demonstrated zero-emission tramming .
IGO and Barminco recently put a Sandvik DL422iE longhole drill to work at the Nova operation in Western Australia , becoming the first mine in Australia to roll out the fullyautomated , battery-electric rig .
The nickel-copper-cobalt mine , in the Fraser Range , is owned by IGO and operated by Barminco . Barminco purchased the Sandvik DL422iE , which was commissioned and put to work in July 2023 . It has since gone on to be operated remotely from surface .
The Sandvik DL422iE is a fully-automated , battery-powered top hammer longhole drill designed for underground mass mining in 4 x 4 m or larger production drifts , Sandvik says . It can drill vertical and inclined fans and single or parallel Ø89-127 mm long holes up to 54 m in depth using ST58 and ST68 tube rods .
The drill ’ s electric driveline includes a battery package and electric motor to allow for zero emissions while tramming and also reduced thermal load . The DL422iE also features Sandvik ’ s patented Charging While Drilling technology ; an innovation for reduced battery charging time without the need for additional infrastructure .
Epiroc , similarly , has been rolling out more of its underground drilling line with battery-electric options , including sales of a number of Boomer M2 Battery face drill rigs that are built for tramming off battery .
Charting the BEV progress
Mine Master is deeply embedded in this market and currently offers two types of battery-powered machine : the Roof Master 1.8KE bolter and the Face Master 1.7LE .
The RM 1.8KE bolting rig recently completed testing at KGHM Lubin mine , in Poland , and is now being operated underground as a production
18 International Mining | MAY 2024