Diesel-saving innovation unveiled

An anti-idle auxiliary power unit (APU) promises significant cost savings in haul trucks and other machinery used in surface mining and quarrying operations. The APU keeps the heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system running while the main diesel engine is off, ensuring operators stay cool and comfortable during idle periods like loading. This helps to reduce diesel costs and carbon emissions by eliminating the need to run the main engine in order to provide power to the HVAC unit.

The diesel-saving innovation was recently unveiled at Electra Mining Africa by Booyco Engineering.The company’s executive director Grant Miller says the APU was engineered to drive in-cab air conditioners.

“In the high ambient conditions prevalent on Southern African mines, mining truck operators must often keep the main engine running to maintain a comfortable cab temperature while waiting to be loaded. While this is understandable in terms of maintaining a cool environment from both a safety and productivity perspective, this practice can consume between 30 and 50 litres of diesel per hour,” he explains. “And our APU consumes just 1.5 litres of diesel per hour while still keeping the cab cool and comfortable.”

The unit is designed to ensure that all essential systems, such as proximity detection systems and communication systems, remain powered and operational even when the main engine is off, which helps enhance safety and efficiency. In addition to reducing diesel consumption, the APU also helps lower carbon footprints, enabling mines to progress toward their environmental, social and governance goals.

The 24 V air-conditioning system used in mining trucks and other equipment is able to integrate seamlessly with the APU, which is T3-rated and suitable for operation in ambient temperatures up to 46 °C. The unit can be configured to suit specific customer requirements.