FUELS & OILS
of fuel storage. The dispensing equipment needs
to deliver about 800 litres per minute, because it’s
filling 3,000 litre tanks and high-flow equipment
means faster refuelling and cost and productivity
savings. There’ll also need to be separate
refuelling points for the lighter vehicles.”
Security is another key consideration – Cygler
says while fully automated and robotic refuelling
is probably still a few years away for most sites,
advanced fuel management systems have
significantly streamlined the refuelling process
and dramatically reduced losses. Having access to
real-time data and analytics allows for predictive
maintenance processes that reduce vehicle downtime.
“AVI refuelling, or automated vehicle
identification systems, identify each vehicle and
monitor fuel usage. They can compile detailed
data that includes who is operating the vehicle
and changes in fuel consumption,” he says. “Fuel
management systems provide an important basis
for fuel management and are also an effective way
to reduce theft and wastage.”
Robofuelling
SCOTT Automation’s ROBOFUEL™ is an
automation and control solution, combined with
the latest vision and sensing technologies
providing refuelling of mine trucks accurately,
safely and autonomously. The ROBOFUEL process
uses a robotic arm to refuel mining equipment to
increase productive hours and efficiency of trucks,
with a projected business case that demonstrates
a short payback period and deployment models
that can be supported by either capital or
operational initiatives. Typically, refuel facilities
are manned by at least one person at all times and
trucks can spend up to one hour per day travelling
to refuel. As there is no manning required for an
automated solution, refuelling stations me be
optimally located “on-circuit” or even “in-pit” so
fleet productivity can be significantly enhanced.
ROBOFUEL is fully portable and is able to be
shifted throughout mine developments allowing
for the innovative technology to be placed where it
is exactly needed, thus constantly working with
the site.
The company told IM that the autonomous
truck installation it completed last year in the
Pilbara iron ore mining region of WA achieved site
acceptance in late 2019 and is now operating
successfully in production. SCOTT is also seeing
strong interest from the client for further systems
across several other WA operations. The next
project is also underway, for another WA iron ore
SCOTT Automation's ROBOFUEL delivering fuel
to an AHS mining truck in the Pilbara
producer, and is due for completion in late 2020.
This will include improved interfacing with the
autonomous haulage system, and SCOTT is in
collaboration with the AHS system providers on
the system integration. Most of the design
changes to accommodate AHS trucks have been
around the remote interfacing with the vehicles,
and improved remote connectivity with operations
and maintenance personnel. Globally SCOTT
added that there is strong interest, particularly
across Australia and the Americas, and it expect
several more of these projects to progress in
2020.
Universal Field Robots (UFR) has come out with
Chevron launches Texaco Delo 600 ADF oils
The newly launched engine oil Texaco Delo 600 ADF from Chevron
includes a “revolutionary” new additive technology and product line
designed to significantly reduce diesel particulate filter (DPF) clogging;
extending DPF service life by up to 2.5 times for a 3% fuel economy
retention advantage over the life of the equipment.
Texaco Delo 600 ADF with OMNIMAX™, a Chevron patented
technology, the company says is the first heavy-duty engine oil with the
capability to drastically reduce soot build up in DPF filters, “helping
deliver outstanding system protection to both the engine and the
emissions system. Suitable for both on and off-highway application,
Texaco Delo 600 ADF with Chevron’s patented OMNIMAX™ technology, is
formulated with only 0.4% sulphated ash – far lower than the API and
ACEA limit of 1% sulphated ash, as found in many current heavy-duty
engine oils.”
This new product line and additive technology helps drastically reduce
the rate of DPF clogging, resulting in extended DPF service life, less
frequent DPF regeneration cycles, and contributing to a 3% improved fuel
economy over the life of the equipment.
Development of Texaco Delo 600 ADF came on the back of a desire to
help ensure customers were able to achieve lowest possible running
costs, and to meet emissions regulations, for off-highway applications.
Stage I European standards for engines used in Non-Road Mobile
Machinery (NRMM) were implemented in 1999, and over the years the
requirements for NOx and particulates have become more stringent,
helping equipment become far cleaner.
Whilst Stage III and Stage IV led to limited use of DPFs, Stage V is
driving widespread adoption of DPFs, which can be very effective at
reducing particulate matter emissions but are subject to periodic cleaning
to remove incombustible materials that accumulate over time.
Rommel Atienza, Chevron Global Commercial Brand Manager, said:
“The downside of DPFs is their operation inherently increases fuel
consumption to assure that enough heat is generated to burn off the
accumulated soot. This comes at a cost, not only the upfront cost
associated with these devices and the numerous sensors and dosing
units that enable them, but also ongoing operational and maintenance
costs.”
He adds: “Texaco Delo 600 ADF significantly reduces the rate of DPF
clogging, to extend DPF service life by up to 2.5 times, resulting in a 3%
fuel economy retention advantage over the life of the equipment and
delivering significant savings to customers.”
The full Delo 600 ADF line was available from July 1, 2020 and includes
Delo 600 ADF 15W-40 and Delo 600 ADF 10W-30.
JULY/AUGUST 2020 | International Mining