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ABSTRACT
The New Afton Mine and CanmetMINING conducted a joint study to better understand the environmental and performance impacts of battery- and diesel-powered mobile equipment. The two main objectives were to: (1) determine if battery electric and diesel load-haul-dump vehicles (LHDs) could perform equivalent duties, and (2) gather environmental information for determining the ventilation airflow requirements for battery-powered vehicles. The study focused on the effects of the LHDs on heat and dust generation and energy consumption in a ramp and in a production level. For the production environment tested, respirable crystalline silica concentrations were the driver to assess the battery-powered LHD airflow volume. The potential to reduce this volume was identified in the controlled air streams and conditions tested. However, it depended on the scenario and the dust generation and suppression mechanisms. One scenario evaluated environmental conditions under a reduced airflow (50% less than the diesel LHD). For this mine site, area contaminants levels exceeded limits; therefore, the potential for savings was less than 50%. For the scenarios tested, the battery electric and diesel LHDs were able to move equivalent amounts of material in a similar time.
RÉSUMÉ
La mine New Afton et CanmetMINES ont mené une étude conjointe afin de mieux comprendre les impacts sur l’environnement et la performance des équipements mobiles alimentés par des batteries et des moteurs diesel. Les deux principaux objectifs étaient les suivants (1) déterminer si les véhicules de chargement et de déchargement (LHD, de l’anglais load-haul-dump) électriques et diesel peuvent effectuer des tâches équivalentes, et (2) recueillir des informations environnementales pour déterminer les exigences en matière de débit d’air de ventilation pour les véhicules alimentés par batterie. L’étude s’est concentrée sur les effets des LHD sur la production de chaleur et de poussière et sur la consommation d’énergie sur une rampe et au niveau de la production. Pour l’environnement de production testé, les concentrations de silice cristalline alvéolaire ont été le facteur déterminant du volume de débit d’air des véhicules à batteries. Le potentiel de réduction de ce volume a été identifié dans les flux d’air contrôlés et les conditions testées. Cependant, cela dépendait du scénario, de la production de poussière et de la suppression de la poussière. Un scénario a évalué les conditions environnementales dans un flux d’air réduit (50 % de moins que la LHD diesel). Pour ce site minier, les niveaux de contaminants dans la zone dépassaient les limites ; par conséquent, le potentiel d’économie était inférieur à 50 %. Pour les scénarios testés, les véhicules LHD électriques à batterie et les véhicules LHD diesel ont été en mesure de déplacer des quantités équivalentes de matériaux dans un laps de temps similaire.
MOTS-CLÉS:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The NRCan-CanmetMINING and New Afton authors would like to acknowledge New Gold, New Afton Mine management for funding the project, providing the test site and mobile equipment, and their support during its execution, in addition to technical and operational team support. Daniel Crossingham, former industrial hygienist, and Peter Prochotsky, former manager, are thanked for their active involvement and support during the project. Further acknowledgments are extended to EELO for their coordination role and support in obtaining the mobile equipment data, to Zero Nexus and Newtrax for providing the data for the diesel LHD, and to Sandvik for providing the data for the battery-powered LHD.
DISCLAIMER
An earlier presentation of this study was published in the Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability/Mine Operators Conference, MEMO 2022, prior to undergoing the CIM Journal peer-review process.
REVIEW STATEMENT
Paper reviewed and approved for publication by the Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability Society of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
E. Acuña-Duhart
Enrique Acuña-Duhart is an Energy Efficiency Specialist with NRCan-CanmetMINING in Sudbury and works in the transition from diesel to electric vehicles in mining. He holds a Master’s in Operations Management and a PhD in Natural Resources Engineering. His focus is developing tools and methodologies for improving energy efficiency and productivity in the mining sector associated with energy management.
J. Le
John Le is a Senior Mechanical Engineer with NRCan-CanmetMINING. He is a Professional Engineer with over 15 years’ experience in engineering management and successfully completed the entire cycle of designing, manufacturing, testing, and maintaining diesel and battery electric machines. Currently, he is focusing on battery, hydrogen, and diesel-electric technologies to reduce carbon footprints in the mining industry.
M. Levesque
Michelle Levesque is the Engineering Technical Lead for the Climate Change Mitigation team at NRCan-CanmetMINING. Michelle is a chemist and holds Master’s and PhD degrees in Natural Resources Engineering. Focusing on the development of tools and technologies for improving energy efficiency with the mining sector, Michelle has worked on various projects aimed at improving sustainability in mining.
P. Le
Phil Le is the Innovation & Technology Superintendent at New Afton Mine. He is a Professional Engineer (Mining) with over 13 years’ industry experience. Phil has been actively involved in New Afton’s implementation of underground operational technology, including automation and battery electric vehicles, through leading project management plans and risk assessments, operational data and business case analysis, and regulatory engagement.