Technical and economic validation of the Sleipner System in real use and comparison with results of the Sleipner Benefit Calculator

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis

Authors

Abstract

This thesis investigates the technical and economic aspects of the Sleipner System Solution. The relocation of chain-driven hydraulic excavators inside a quarry or between several mines is made easier and quicker by using the ‘Sleipner Shoes’ in combination with dump trucks. Sleipner Shoes are available for a wide variety of payload classes ranging from 31 to 565 tons and a width from 660 to 1400 mm (Sleipner E30-60 to E550-1440). Five companies who are already using the System have been investigated. The major parameters of interest where the deviations in travelling times, speeds, distances, heights and numbers of use in comparison to the conventional system. In these companies the Sleipners are used in range of 4 to 75 times per month to be moved of a distance of 1 up to 6 kilometers per usage with the hydraulic excavator. The needed timespan for the relocation is given from 30 to 120 minutes without Sleipners and from 5 to 60 minutes with the Sleipner Shoes. The average speed of travelling with the excavators while using the Sleipner System is communicated with 8 to 14 km/h. This translates to a decrease of the time spent travelling on tracks of about 73 %, a reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 72 % and a possible increase of standup time from 5 up to 70 percent. The maintenance intervals of the undercarriage are not influenced by the use of the Sleipner System at the investigated companies; This due to a lack of monitoring as well as the strict adherence to the intervals provided by the suppliers of the excavator. These data have been compared with the results from the Sleipner Benefit Calculator provided on the company’s homepage. The results show a deviation of 5 % between the average reduction of time spent travelling on tracks from 70 % of the Calculator and 73 % reduction of the analysis of this study. The increase of production of both data rows shows an average deviation of 30 %. A reduction of the time spent travelling on tracks to the total operational time per month shows an average deviation of approximately 25 % between the results of the calculator and the analysed data of this study. An average deviation of 1.5 % is achieved at the data rows of the saved CO2 emissions and the saved fuel. The reduction of the maintenance costs of over 50 % by doubled or even tripled lifetime of the undercarriage as statement of the Calculator cannot be compared because of lack of data from the companies. Thus the results of the Calculator can be considered as rough estimation of the economic performance of the system without the need of providing too detailed input data.

Details

Translated title of the contributionTechnische und wirtschaftliche Analyse des Sleipner Systems im realen Einsatz und Vergleich mit den Ergebnissen des Sleipner Benefit Calculator
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDipl.-Ing.
Awarding Institution
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date4 Apr 2014
Publication statusPublished - 2014