Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, part of the Swedish Sandvik Group, is introducing lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) technology for its battery-electric underground drills at the MINExpo International fair. The new liquid cooled battery module has a capacity of 15kWh and a nominal voltage of 38.4V DC.
Marko Roivas, product line manager for underground drilling at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said the company is introducing a significant development in underground drilling technology with the new LFP battery. “The new module for Sandvik battery electric loaders and trucks has 36% more capacity compared to the previous version. This allows for a longer run time, which means increased production and a lower total cost of ownership.”
The LFP battery module offers a variety of safety improvements that allow it to operate seamlessly in rough mining environments. It features foam potting at the top and bottom, as opposed to only the bottom in the previous version. This blocks moisture, dust and contaminants, prevents isolation faults and conducts heat away from a hot cell inside the module, which is important in the harsh underground conditions.
Other safety features include pressure vents and a laser welded aluminium housing. The entire module is touch and tool safe, meaning no exposed live conductors and no voltage over 40V to mitigate shock.
“During field testing at Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä mine in northern Finland, we saw remarkable improvements in performance, including significant increases in battery tramming distance and speed, which has been one of the biggest hurdles to implementing BEVs in operations with long declines,” Roivas said.
“LFP batteries are known for their high safety margins, tolerance for thermal runaway, longevity, durability and abundant availability of cell metals. LFP batteries also do not require pre-heating prior to use.”