Power cycle of underground loader

Author: J. Partyka

A power cycle for a large underground loader is developed using experimental data.

Power measurements are taken by directly hooking up a computer to the electronic control module of the engine and recording the torque and rpm while the loader is working under normal condition.

A power cycle for the engine is then calculated correlating these two parameters.

Results showed that the average power requirement for the loader while tramming with an empty bucket was 155 kW.

During the duration of this operation, the loader had an energy expenditure of 31 MJ.

When mucking, the average power of the loader was 216 kW, while expending 18 MJ of energy.

Tramming with a full bucket required the loader to expend 40.5 MJ with an average power output of 174 kW.

For one complete cycle, the energy storage requirement of the power supply is 95 MJ, with an average power output of 174 kW and a peak power output of 216 kW.