New Afton Mine diesel and battery electric load-haul-dump vehicle field test: Heat and dust contribution study

Abstract

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.