Haslestad (left) and Hagiwara ... new co-operation.
Komatsu, Siemens plan new drive
A leading Japanese truck manufacturer has entered into an alliance with a German electrical and electronics giant to manufacture a new drive system that will revolutionise the dumptruck segment.
01 December 2006
Siemens Group Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) of Germany and Komatsu of Japan have formed an alliance to jointly develop electric drive systems for large-volume dumptrucks.
Komatsu is a market leader for diesel-electric haul trucks in open pit mines.
Compared to mechanical drive, the advanced technology in Siemens drive system provides higher productivity, reduced maintenance and lower operating costs. “This allows us to provide a truck to the market with lower operating costs per tonne of material moved,” explains Toshitaka Hagiwara, chairman of the board and representative director of Komatsu.
“With the use of electric drive systems for mining haul trucks, the weight of the haul truck is reduced,” explains Joergen Ole Haslestad, chairman of the board and group president of Siemens I&S. “Siemens’ AC drive system increases the available power and performance of the truck. We will be able to handle the payload needs of the ultra-class mining truck market.”
Based on the present demand for raw materials and the boom in open pit mining, Haslestad expects continued strong demand for diesel-electric haul trucks for mining over the next years. “Komatsu and Siemens are providing the right solution at the right time,” says Haslestad.
AC electricity is generated on the truck by an alternator connected to the main diesel engine. This AC voltage is rectified into DC voltage and briefly stored. The Siemens IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) inverters transform this voltage back into fine-tuned AC power that drives the electric wheel motors at the back of the truck. With the optimised voltage and frequency control of the AC power, speed is controlled with the accelerator pedal just like in a normal car.
In addition to low operating costs, the benefits of the Siemens drive system include the capability to provide very high torque at stand still for acceleration of the truck in the severe application, high top speed, and high electrical braking capabilities. Using the electric wheel motors to slow the truck reduces mechanical brake wear and also lowers operating costs.
