FUELS & OILS
A Ground Force 250 ton fuel lube truck at a
mine in South America. It is the world's largest
with capacity for 25,000 gal (94,635 l) of diesel,
plus 1,200 gal lube, 1,200 gal coolant and
additional capacity for greases
the same quality features listed above with the
added value of office space and restrooms. These
skids are available with fuel volumes up to and
beyond 100,000 gallons of fuel with multiple pitstop
locations and various oil, grease, and coolant
volumes. They can be easily moved around via
dozer or lowboy trailer to accommodate site
“saving thousands on startup and infrastructure
costs compared to permanent structures. DEF can
be integrated into these skids as well or we offer
several DEF only options to add to your existing
fuelling solution.”
Ground Force says it “continues to improve our
fuelling solutions by way of directly interfacing
with customers to best learn challenges,
processes, and needs so we can adapt
accordingly.”
Oil performance in warmer conditions
Darryl Purificati, OEM Technical Liaison, Petro-
Canada Lubricants, told IM that mining fleets tend
to focus on the impact of cold temperatures on
performance, but this shouldn’t be the only
consideration. "In the summer months, the impact
of warmer conditions must also be taken into
account as high ambient temperatures can alter a
heavy-duty engine oil’s chemical composition and
affect lubrication, cooling and protecting the
equipment’s engine in the way it was designed.
This can wreak havoc on the performance of the
fleet, meaning operators must be aware of the
performance issues that their lubricants can
encounter when working under such challenging
conditions."
Whether mining fleets are operating at the
height of summer or in extremely warm climates,
high temperatures often dictate the need for a
heavier engine oil. He adds: “It’s important to
select a product that is able to resist viscosity
losses under these conditions, such as an Society
of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 30- or 40- grade.
Viscosity loss occurs with increasing temperatures
which will decrease oil film thickness and threaten
boundary lubrication. This can result in increased
deposits forming on the valves, poor airflow to the
engine and can lead to poor sealing of the
combustion chamber and accelerated wear. When
this happens, engines tend to operate at reduced
efficiency, suffering reduced power and fuel
economy losses that can have a significant
financial impact on a mining fleet. A heavier
engine oil will ensure proper and adequate flow
with adequate oil film thickness, protecting critical
engine components.” Petro-Canada offers its
DURON highly durable oils which meet the new
category demands of API CK-4 and FA-4.
The most common problem that equipment
owners will experience with their oils operating in
higher temperatures is oxidation, as the process is
accelerated under these conditions. This can
cause additional problems, like an increase in
sludge deposits, formation of acidic byproducts
and corrosion as well as loss in foam control.
“Reducing stress on a machinery’s hardware is
critical to overall efficiency. Characteristics such as
oxidation, viscometrics and volatility must be
considered and monitored. In the mining sector,
significantly increased stress can reduce
equipment’s fuel efficiency and increase the
likelihood of metal-to-metal contact within the
engine. If this happens, the engine hardware can
seize up or fail, and fleets will experience
increased downtime and spiralling repair and
maintenance costs. With a business to manage
and vehicles to keep running, it’s important that
equipment owners choose the most appropriate
product to meet the demands of the seasons, and
their operating conditions. This choice should
always be based on the particular OEM's ambient
temperature range lubricant recommendations as
provided in the owner’s manual.”
He concludes: “All oils, and for that matter,
engine components, have their limitations. It’s
vital that mining fleets make smart decisions
when it comes to selecting the most appropriate
lubricant for their equipment and application. To
do this, the impact of hot temperatures on
lubricants as well its cold flow properties should
be considered so fleet managers can be well
informed of the specific demands of their fleet.
This means that their machinery can be afforded
the utmost protection, no matter the terrain or
temperature.” IM
JULY/AUGUST 2020 | International Mining