HI. Truck Models

Owned by iarmstrong
Last updated: Oct 11, 2023
10 min read

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In the Models step enter truck data to calculate acceleration, deceleration, axle loading, fuel burn, as well as battery trucks and trolley assist recharging parameters.

 

Truck List

On the left-hand side is the truck list. You can have as many trucks as you would like to evaluate.

You can edit names of added trucks, delete, move them up and down in the list, as well as export to “.opentruck” file.
 

Press Add Truck button to add a new truck to your project. You can:

  • add a default truck,

  • or import it from a file or library.

    • You may choose to use a “.ATR” from Talpac, but we prefer the “.opentruck”/“.opentruck2”. These have been carefully digitised and cross-checked straight out of the manufacturer's handbook.

 

If you are querying from a scheduling package, the truck names must match what is in the scheduler.

 

 

Truck Library

Truck files can be downloaded from the Alastri truck library.

There is an extensive library of modern trucks in the Trucks section on the website.

If you have a truck that is not in the list, please let us know (contact alastrisupport@micromine.com).

Note, that if you need fuel burn information for the specific truck type, please source it and provide it to us, and we will digitise it for you and add to the library, if applicable.

Truck Creator

You can also digitise the required trucks yourself, using the Truck Creator functionality, provided in the Tools dropdown.

To digitise a truck of interest using the Truck Creator tool, you will need to find and download the manufacturer's data sheet/specifications for that truck model.

The specification must include the following data:

  • Weight: empty (unladen) weight, maximum payload capacity (payload), gross weight.

  • Truck weight distribution on axles, % front/rear, unladen/laden.

  • Towing and Braking performance.

  • Fuel consumption, if applicable.

Please note that the specifications available in the Internet may differ by country and product type, even if the model name is the same. Therefore, when searching, stick to the data applicable to the particular model of truck used in your operation.

For detailed instructions on the trucks digitising see HI. Truck Creator.

Truck Power Type

Truck power type can be selected using the drop down menu next to the truck name. This will update general inputs and data curves.

 

Axle Data

  • Each row represents one axle on the truck.

  • A “driven” axle is connected to the drive train.

  • Each axle has a number of tyres.

  • Each axle has a loaded and unloaded weight on it.

This is used for the TKPH tyre-loading calculations and full/empty travel times.

General

Contains power usage inputs based on the power type selected.

Diesel Trucks

Fuel Engine Loads

 

Fuel Engine Loads

 

 

Optionally update engine loads for more accurate fuel burn predictions.

When using the Fuel power source, this calculates predicted fuel burn during certain idle tasks based these engine loads.

 

Battery Electric Trucks

Trolley Assist

 

Trolley Assist

 

Trolley Energy (kW)

The amount of power provided by the trolley system for a truck to use. This should be relative to the truck’s power system (not the grid). Haul Infinity always operates on the assumption that only one truck is connected to the trolley at a time.

Trolley to Wheel Motor Efficiency

The operating efficiency converting trolley power to wheel motor power, specified as a percentage.

Trolley to Battery Efficiency

The operating efficiency converting the remaining trolley power (not used by the wheel motor) into charge for the battery system.

Trolley Availability

The overall availability of the trolley system specified as a percentage. This is intended to model downtime and maintenance of the trolley when determining power requirements for a schedule.

For example, if the trolley availability is set to 90%, the trolley segments will provide 90% of the power to the truck and 10% will be provided by the battery.

Battery

 

Battery Capacity (kWh)

The Battery Capacity is set here, this is ignored if using Diesel Fuel power source type. The special value of 0 is handled as though you have an infinite capacity battery, so there is never a need to recharge but power usage and generation are still calculated.

Battery Recharge

When using the power source type of Electric, the time to recharge this battery will be taken into account and that is specified here.

Battery Recharge Type

Electric trucks can specify their recharge time in different ways. Select the calculation method from this combo box and specify the appropriate value in the field below.

They are the recharge time components of the cycle time.

Time - specify the time (in minutes) required to completely charge a battery from discharged to 100% capacity.

EnergyRate - how many kW you can charge in hour, so with a 2000kw battery and a 4000kw recharge rate, it'll be charged in 30 minutes. If Battery Recharge Type is set to “Energy Rate”, the Battery Recharge Energy Rate must be greater than zero.

CRate - is a number that says how fast you can charge/discharge the battery in one hour. So, with C Rate = 2, you can charge the truck 2 times in 1 hour > recharge time = 30 minutes. If Battery Recharge Type is set to “C Rate”, the Battery Recharge C Rate must be greater than zero.

Recharge per Cycle Rounding

When calculating the number of cycles per recharge, Haul Infinity can operate in rounded or unrounded mode. This affects a few calculations and you will generally use each for different scenarios.

Rounded - When calculating a haul route, the software will round down the number of cycles to ensure there will be sufficient battery charge remaining to return to a charger and recharge. Over thousands of hauls this ‘slack’ charge can accumulate and cause a significant impact to scheduled power requirements.
You should select Rounded when you’re using Haul Infinity to determine the feasibility of individual routes, or integrating with APS for short term schedules.

Unrounded - When calculating a haul route, the number of cycles will represent the absolute number of cycles a truck can do until it completely runs out of power.
You should use Unrounded when integrating with ATS for medium to long term schedules to ensure more efficient use of trucks.

Battery Recharge Time (min)

The amount of time in minutes it takes to completely recharge a battery from discharged to 100% capacity.

Battery Recharge Energy Rate (kW)

The maximum rate at which a battery can be charged, specified in kW.

Battery Recharge C Rate (1/hour)

The maximum rate at which a battery can be charged, specified as a C Rate.

Use Pathfinding For Chargers

Specify on which route to perform pathfinding to the charger.

Battery Loads

 

 

Optionally update battery loads for more accurate power usage predictions.

When using the Electric power source, this calculates predicted power usage during certain idle tasks based these loads.

Curves

  • The available curves are Rimpull, Retard, Fuel, Trolley Assist Rimpull, Battery Usage, Trolley Usage, Battery Regen and Regen Force.

  • Turn curves on and off using flags in the Active column. If some curves are not applicable to your truck, select (none).

  • Curves are digitized out of the manufacturer's handbooks. For better accuracy, calibrate with data from your fleet management system.

  • Click in the graph area to manually show a point.

  • Speed (km/h) and Force (kgf) values cannot be edited here, but can be copied into and pasted from Microsoft Excel using Copy to Clipboard and Paste from Excel buttons.

    • When editing and pasting curves data, the first Speed (km/h) value should always be 0.00.

Rimpull Curve

Available rimpull is a function of the gear ratios and the rolling radius of the machine. Haul Infinity uses the rimpull curves and the axle weights to derive an acceleration from the current vehicle speed.

Rimpull curves show the propulsion force in kilograms (kgF) against truck velocity (km/h).

  • For mechanical trucks, the rimpull curve shows a characteristic series of humps as the transmission steps down through different gear ratios.

  • Electric trucks typically show a smoother rimpull profile.

T = motor torque; F = rimpull force; r = rolling radius of driven tires; G = gear reduction ratio between motors and driven wheels; N = number of driving motors; T = (F * r) / (G * N);

Electric drive trucks have a smoother profile because there is no gear discontinuity. For electric drive trucks that do not have gears, rimpull can be approximated as the effective engine power divided by the velocity.

P = power; F = force; V = velocity; F = P / V;

 

 

Retard Curve

  • Braking curves are not used to calculate stopping distances.

  • The deceleration properties are set in Setup > Settings > Acceleration.

  • In the presence of regenerative braking (for Battery Power trucks), this remains to be the normal non regenerative brakes.

  • If multiple retard curves available for the imported truck file, compare and select the one applicable for the truck used on your site.

Fuel Curve

  • Fuel curves match the fuel rate to the engine load.

Calibrate this graph with data from the fleet management system.

  • This applies to the fuel powered trucks. Fuel curves are not needed for use with battery powered truck.

Trolley Assist Rimpull Curve

  • Trolley assisted haulage involves feeding power to haul trucks from overhead lines. 

 

 

Segments have a trolley property. When toggled on, the truck switches to the trolley rimpull curve while traversing the segment.

 

Data will be available in:

Network > Cycle Time Analysis tab:

Network > Charts tab:

Trolley Usage Curve

Electric trucks are often capable of delivering significantly more power at the wheels while attached to a trolley, which results in a higher power draw. The amount of power used is captured via the Trolley Usage curve, ensuring accurate reporting for capacity planning.

The Trolley Usage curve will only be relevant if you have powered trolley in your mine (on ramps, etc). If you are not modelling trolley usage it can be ignored.

Battery Usage Curve

Haul Infinity uses this to calculate total battery energy used on each haul cycle if the trucks power source is Battery (Models > Type > Electric).

 

Battery Regen Curve

Haul Infinity uses this to calculate total battery energy restored on each haul cycle if the trucks power source is Battery (Models > Type > Electric).

Regen Force Curve

This is not used to calculate max safe downhill speeds like the retard curve, and is just used to calculate the amount of the braking force produced by regenerative braking.

ATS / APS integration

  • All battery related cycle time information is exposed into APS / ATS as normal via report fields.

  • Battery capacity and other parameters are exposed to scripts as operating conditions, allowing scripts to adjust battery performance on a per-haul basis.