UNDERGROUND LOAD AND HAUL
Tyres on LHDs and underground trucks get
much greater life running on well-maintained
underground roadways. Miller Technology’s BG
110-M was developed in collaboration with
mining specialists especially for use in mining
applications. Its height is only 1.80 m and
overall length without attachments less than
7.40 m. Thanks to the hydrostatic all-wheel
drive, the driver can alternate the speed at will
in that gear. A high starting torque ensures
maximum thrust even at low speeds and
revolution speeds. The two-gear transmission
in use enables the grader to move at a
maximum speed of 33 km/h. The open canopy
design with its readily accessible controls
provides excellent ergonomic working
conditions for the operator and eliminates
driver fatigue. The electrical equipment boasts
a very high degree of protection for work
underground. The load-sensing hydraulic
system supplies the loads only as required and
affords a flow control independent of the load.
This allows the control valves of the working
hydraulics to be actuated simultaneously or
independent of one another
Muckmaster 3TEB, 300EB and 600EB units. There
is also the Haulmaster 800-20EB underground
truck and the Liftmaster 600EB.
Hydrogen power?
In a promising development for underground
propulsion units comes news from CSIRO that its
research aims to fill a gap in the global energy
technology chain to supply fuel cell vehicles with
low-emissions hydrogen sourced from Australia.
The two-year project will build on CSIRO's
expertise in separating pure hydrogen from
mixed gas streams, in this case converting
ammonia to high-purity hydrogen for use in fuel
cell vehicles (FCVs).
CSIRO's membrane reactor technology will fill
the gap between hydrogen production, distribution
and delivery in the form a modular unit that can
be used at, or near, a refuelling station.
Currently, the transportation and storage of
hydrogen is complex and relatively expensive,
making export commercially challenging.
The membrane will allow hydrogen to be
transported in the form of ammonia (which is
already being traded globally), and then
reconverted back to hydrogen at the point of
use.
The thin metal membrane allows hydrogen to
pass, while blocking all other gases.
In the final stages of development, the device
is being further refined, ready for commercial
deployment. IM
JUNE 2017 | International Mining