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Caterpillar introduces trolley assist system for Cat® electric drive mining trucks

Published by , Editor
Global Mining Review,


The new Cat® trolley assist system for Cat electric drive mining trucks is now available for mining operations seeking a means to reduce carbon emissions, lower fuel and engine costs, and boost speed-on-grade for greater productivity.

The Cat trolley assist retrofit kit is currently available for the 795F AC truck, and the trolley design is compatible with the three other Cat electric-drive mining trucks—794 AC, 796 AC and 798 AC.

The commercial introduction of Cat trolley assist comes at the conclusion of a nearly 2 year pilot project conducted with four 795F AC trucks using 700 mof electric trolley line at Boliden’s Aitik mine in Sweden.

Jonas Ranggård, a program manager at Boliden, said: “The Cat trolley assist programme at Aitik has been successful […] Availability has been high despite the arctic conditions, and the company has received good support from Caterpillar and all of the other partners involved. There are few projects that can show both environmental and productivity improvements of this magnitude. This is why Boliden has decided to expand the trolley infrastructure in Aitik and equip its entire 795F AC truck fleet with trolley assist systems.”

Eric Ruth, Electrical Senior Product Team Leader with Caterpillar, commented: “Boliden’s work in demonstrating the capabilities of the Cat trolley assist attachment is appreciated. The benefits of trolley can be significant in the right conditions, and the company would be pleased to discuss site-specific scenarios with customers […] Caterpillar feels that trolley assist can play a role in achieving mining companies’ greenhouse gas reduction goals. Simultaneously, trolley assist boosts productivity by increasing speed-on-grade.”

Trolley steps up

The trolley system significantly reduces diesel engine emissions at the mine via substitution of electricity during the most demanding part of the truck work cycle. Powering a 337-mt-payload 795F AC via trolley on a 10% grade as it climbs the ramp out of the pit saves up to 40 l of diesel fuel per kilometer of trolley line. Fuel and engine costs are reduced by more than 90% while the truck is on trolley.

The trolley system also boosts productivity. Operating with trolley assist, speed-on-grade increases as much as 100% versus diesel-only mode. Using trolley, a loaded 795F can run at 28 kph on a 10% physical grade with solid haul road conditions.

The Cat trolley system is fully machine integrated, bringing the benefits of optimised performance and system serviceability to the 795F AC. The company’s higher voltage truck and trolley system is designed to bring advantages through lower infrastructure capital costs and lower power distribution maintenance costs.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/14022020/caterpillar-introduces-trolley-assist-system-for-cat-electric-drive-mining-trucks/

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