LeTourneau Technologies Australia has released the Switched Reluctance (SR) hybrid drive system, which uses a DC bus system attached to the generator.
In conventional DC drives, a diesel-driven AC generator supplies power, which is converted back to DC via silicon-controlled rectifiers to drive the wheel motors.
According to LeTourneau, some industry observers are considering the SR drive the most significant jump in technology in 20 years.
The company says when electric motor powered loaders are required to brake; the traction motors become generators, feeding power back to the braking grid to stop the loader.
If the braking grid cannot handle the energy generated, any excess would drive back though the generator and ultimately, cut off the machine’s fuel supply.
About 40% of the braking energy could be recovered, the balance dissipated through the braking grid.
The SR power system can recover and conserve almost 90% of energy generated during braking.
LeTourneau’s new L-1150 loader is the launch platform for the hybrid SR drives.