There is movement in the dump trucks sector. Liebherr is one of the historical partners and users of Mtu engine solutions for this kind of applications. MTU keeps on going forward and its engines are now also serving Bell machines.

MTU started with six engines for Bell dump trucks

Bell Equipment already received the first six Series 10001500 MTU engines from Rolls-Royce that meet the Stage V emission standard. The engines cover a power range from 170 to 430 kW. The starting point was a test phase of several years under adverse operating conditions in order to ensure the trucks could receive a reliable, cost-effective upgrade. To this end, MTU’s off-road engine series came ready to comply with the emission standard and with a new exhaust aftertreatment system.

Bell Equipment operates with transport vehicles and haulage tractors for the mining, civil engineering and road construction industries, but it specialises in articulated dump trucks. In preparation to face the more stringent emission requirements, Mtu made two Stage V prototypes available to Bell for field trials back in 2016. A 260 kW MTU 6R 1000 engine and a 430 kW 6R 1500 were successfully tested in the hot, dusty climate of South Africa. They were also able to endure the tough conditions of altitudes of up to 3,000 metres.

MTU ONSITE ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR MINES

The importance of data collection

Bell Equipment and Rolls-Royce with the Mtu brand have been working together closely since the 1990s. In particular, Rolls-Royce was not only the supplier of more than 1,000 MTU engines a year, but also a technology partner in all emission-related design and construction decisions. This includes, of course, the recent upgrading of the dump trucks.

Stefan Rudert, Head of Sales and Application Engineering for Construction & Agriculture at MTU, said: «During the field trials, we accumulated an enormous amount of experience that goes way beyond any simulation on a test bench, since the real-life interplay between the engine and the vehicle affects the behaviour». Data from the field tests came from the use of sensors present on the engines to help Mtu with the configuration of the components.

MTU AFRICA AND MINING TRUCKS

A compact emission technology

The Stage V engines come together with a Scr exhaust technology and they also include a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF). All the components come in a compact one-box solution behind the driver’s cab. Another positive aspect of the new emissions technology is that it reduces fuel consumption.

The preparation involved around 100 MTU engines undergoing trials with various vehicle manufacturers. In total, over 110,000 operating hours were accumulated as a result, with individual engines running non-stop for more than 4,000 hours.

Highlights

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