MINING TRUCKS significant as up to now , TAGE Idriver has mainly been involved with retrofitting autonomous solutions onto existing fleets , whereas this tie-up sees it working with NHL on a new truck fleet . The fleet is to be used as part of an intelligent mine project of China ’ s State Power Investment Corporation ( SPIC ), a major national energy producer operating a number of coal mines including three 10 Mt / y open pit mines in Huolinhe , Inner Mongolia , namely the South Coal Mine , the North Coal Mine and the Zhahanur Coal Mine . SPIC has already trialled two retrofitted autonomous XEMC 108 t SF31904 dump trucks developed with TAGE Idriver at its operations . IM understands that the new SPIC AHS NHL fleet has been all assembled , and a TAGE Idriver team started travelling to the mine in April to start commissioning .
Mining truck fire safety with sustainability
In high-pressure environments where the slightest fault or delay can be extremely costly , a reliable vehicle fire safety system can make all the difference - helping to keep essential trucks and machinery operating smoothly and safely . Historically , the main determining factors that shaped mine operators ’ choice of fire suppression solution were system performance , support and cost . But as awareness grows of the impact that certain fire suppression systems can have on the planet , companies must increasingly consider emerging environmental and regulatory requirements . A key aspect of this shift in priorities is the debate around the use of perand polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS ). Commonly added to wet chemical , foam or dry chemical fire suppression agents due to their ability to effectively starve flames of oxygen and to withstand high temperatures , around 20,000 t of these chemicals are sold annually across all fire-fighting foams in the EU alone .
In recent years PFAS have been facing increased scrutiny despite their long-established effectiveness and widespread usage . Due to their non-biodegradability and extreme stability , PFAS have been shown to have low Predicted No Effect Concentration ( PNEC ) scores , meaning that even a very small amount of PFAS entering soil , ground and surface water can have a harmful effect on surrounding plant and animal populations . This factor is especially concerning in the context of a mining vehicle fire suppression , as agents containing PFAS can flow from the vehicle ’ s protected hazard zones into the surrounding environment when discharged . As a result , regulatory bodies around the world , including the Australian government and the European Chemicals Agency , are starting to implement harsher restrictions on the use of PFAS . A seismic industry shift is on the horizon , one for which organisations in the mining sector should be prepared , not only to remain in compliance , but also to ensure the safety of their people , property and operations .
IM caught up with Alden Spencer , Global Product Manager for ANSUL ® Vehicle Systems at Johnson Controls , to discuss how the industry is reacting to these evolving regulations , and the steps fire suppression solution providers are taking to help mine operators rise to the challenge . “ Automatic fire suppression systems designed for the rigours and schedule of the mining markets are commonplace around the world . But the industry is currently in a state of transition . We must all re-evaluate the established suppression methods and explore
VR Steel - proficiency in efficiencies
“ For us , mining production remains a non-zero-sum game – one where VR continues to create a situation where there is a continuous net benefit to the clients ’ system based on the game ’ s outcome ,” says Dr Justin Martens , GM at Van Reenen Steel . He adds : “ While the truck tray market remains infatuated with lower and lower masses for the tray structures , the complexity of the system and importance accumulative nature of related performance inputs cannot be overstated .” Partnering with blue-chip clients like Barrick at its Lumwana copper mine in Zambia to produce highproduction structures is not merely about a lower mass with higher payloads VR Steel argues – it must include sustained performance , fewer human touch-points or interventions , longer mean-time between repairs , and higher availabilities . It is only through coupling these considerations with payload increases that lower life-cycle costs and efficiencies are truly realised . “ Structures delivering consistent payloads while remaining maintenance-free for 20 , 25 or 30,000 hours is the only true efficiency in mining ” says Martens .
Managing Engineer of the VR Tray division , Campbell Bam , continues : “ Quality is not only what we put into our product or service – it is what the customer gets out of it over the life of the tray ." He says his design team ’ s mandate is to match what the market is demanding with regards to tray masses , but a clear differentiator of outlasting the competition . Without compromising on sound structural decisions that steer clear of lap joints and partial penetration welds , the product is able to avoid early interventions by the end-user . Bam says : “ The safety risks , hidden costs for the client and inefficiencies introduced into the system with interventions at 6,000 or 12,000 hours must be a consideration at the time of purchase . Supply chains are not considering what it means commercially to install hundreds of hexagonal or triangular liners very early on in the life of the tray , and yet many tray suppliers are succeeding
with this very ploy .” Bam ’ s choice of material grade within the plate patchwork , geometric sections for stiffness and modal characteristics
deliver metronomic availability to mine operations . He says the VR trays ’ longevity in the field is well-known and a key feature that sees clients embarking on entire fleet upgrades to reap these efficiencies . Reliability is at the heart of VR Steel designs and its reputation has been forged in the unforgiving African market – where mines are remote and digging conditions are harsh . Backed by the latest Computer-Aided Engineering ( CAE ) tools , VR Steel can closely simulate real mining applications to reduce uncertainty during the design phase . Bam mentioned : “ All our products are extensively simulated in several multiphysics domains to ensure they adhere to our own high standards . Through rapid optimisation in a simulated environment , we are able to iron out potential issues even before they arise . This enables us to provide our clients with a reliable best in a class solution that can hold their own – even in the toughest mining conditions .”
VR Steel custom designs all its products to suit each client ’ s unique needs . Martens says : “ All our trays are designed to derive the maximum value from the excavating and hauling operation . In some instances , we provide an optimised tray based on a mine ’ s material density , thereby allowing trucks to be loaded at their rated capacity . Some mines adopt a payload matching strategy , requesting that a tray ’ s volume gets matched to several full passes of the loading tool .” Martens concludes : “ By understanding our client ’ s needs enables us to provide them with a solution that fits into their long-term strategy throughout their operational footprint .”
MAY 2021 | International Mining