Demonstration of new high-performance batteries in coal-mining scoops. Final technical report

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5062785

Rosey, R

The program objective was to demonstrate the performance features of an improved battery system in underground coal haulage applications that might increase productivity for the equipment and lower operating costs for the mine operator. The program was initiated with an investigation of several mine facilities to evaluate the operation of battery powered coal haulers. A design concept and specification for the nickel-iron battery was developed for use in a S and S Corporation CX-2 UNATRAC Coal Hauler. An 800 Ah, 132 VDC nickel-iron battery system was assembled and tested. Field tests were conducted at an aboveground test track to simulate actual mining environments. Test results indicated that the nickel-iron battery could provide a range of 40 to 70% additional trips per battery charge cycle. Auxiliary hardware functioned as designed and demonstrated the automatic battery maintenance features. A relatively high number of cell package failures occurred during this test period that precluded an underground demonstration. As a result of the performance improvements demonstrated by the battery and the potential for an additional increase in performance due to recent advancements in electrode technology, the final phase of the program was redirected to design and test additional prototype cells addressing the packaging problems encountered during the field test period. The increased energy storage and high rate charging for the nickel-iron system does provide the mine operator with more options on operating the equipment within a section by extending the useful service time of the battery for a shift or multiple shift operation.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Advanced Energy Systems Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-76ET12581
• OSTI ID: 5062785
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/12581-T1; ON: DE82020535
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
IRON-NICKEL BATTERIES
FIELD TESTS
UNDERGROUND MINING
COAL MINING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MINE HAULAGE
POWER SUPPLIES
DATA
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
INFORMATION
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
METAL-METAL OXIDE BATTERIES
MINING
NUMERICAL DATA
TESTING
012000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Mining