At bauma 2019, Volvo is exhibiting a soon-to-be available hydraulic hybrid excavator that is said to improve fuel efficiency by up to 17%. The EC300E Hybrid excavator’s boom-down motion charges energy-storing accumulators that are used to subsequently power the hydraulic pump.
Unlike other systems that capture the swing energy of an excavator’s superstructure to electrically assist the engine, Volvo’s novel hydraulic hybrid harvests ‘free’ energy generated by the down motion of the excavator’s boom and uses it to supercharge the hydraulic system.
The powerful and regular boom-down motions charge 20 liter hydraulic accumulators, which then deliver energy to drive hydraulic assist motors that help power the hydraulic pump. Controllability and performance are the same as on the standard EC300E, including the ability to work in Eco mode and hybrid mode simultaneously.
The straightforward system takes load off the engine, and in the process delivers between 10 and 12% lower fuel consumption and up to 12% less CO2 emissions, and up to 17% fuel efficiency improvement depending on application. When used in production ‘dig and dump’ applications (especially those with a 90 degree swing) the payback of this simple approach can be a little more than a year.
Fastest mini excavator
Mecalac’s new MCR excavators combine the 360-degree rotation capability with the speed of a wheel loader. According to the company, with a travel speed of up to 10 kmh it’s the fastest mini excavator on the market. Reducing traveling times compared to other excavators translates into more productivity and a better utilization rate of a machine.
MCR excavators can work efficiently with loader buckets. The 8MCR maximum bucket capacity, for example, equals 0.53m³ — the bucket size of a 12t excavator. That equates to 77% more material moved compared to that of traditional excavators. Yet with a total swing radius of 2.7 m, this equals the total radius of a 2 ton excavator.
The patented boom folds 130° backwards to offer maximum stability, acting as a natural counterweight. Mecalac MCR diggers can lift 40% of their own weight because they are the only small excavators with the boom at the side of the cab, and not at the front. In addition, the kinematics lets users work close to the machine while still offering a good reach.
The units have a closed-circuit hydrostatic transmission with a dual variable-displacement pump and 2 x 2 speed gear motors with automatic brakes. Flow rates are up to 200 liter/min and 5,220 psi pressure. A “load sensing – flow sharing” LUDV-type main control valve block maintains proportionality of functions regardless of the pressure level in individual elements.
Biomethane power
Case Construction Equipment unveiled the world’s first methane-powered construction vehicle at bauma 2019. Case says this creates a breakthrough in sustainable construction as it reveals the world’s first wheel loader which runs entirely on alternative and renewable fuel.
ProjectTETRA, Case’s concept vehicle, demonstrates a clear pathway to a renewable future for construction equipment, shifting away from a reliance on the traditional diesel engine and addressing one of the world’s most pressing issues – environmental sustainability – with a pragmatic solution for the construction industry.
The concept includes a methane-powered engine designed by FPT Industrial. With a maximum 230hp, it delivers the same power and torque as its equivalent diesel engine found in the Case 821G wheel loader. It’s powered by biomethane which is produced in biodigesters from waste products such as waste food, wood chippings and animal waste. With carbon-neutral production, biomethane provides a closed-loop, virtuous energy cycle, converting waste into useful energy.
ProjectTETRA not only uses a sustainable energy source, but also produces 95% less CO2 when running on biomethane, 90% less nitrogen dioxides and 99% lower particulate matter than a diesel-powered equivalent. It delivers an 80% reduction in overall emissions and also achieves a 50% reduction in drive-by noise levels.
LNG overtakes diesel
Kubota unveiled the prototype KX019-4 LPG mini excavator at bauma. The unit is powered by a next generation Kubota spark-ignition engine that runs on LPG. The new machine makes it possible for users to work in emission restricted access areas such as cities applying diesel-bans, and also generates less noise. Using the industrial standard gas bottles available everywhere, the machine is easily and quickly refueled by replacing the bottle. The machine is also equipped with a reserve gas accumulator.
Performance of all machine functions, including the hydraulics, is exactly the same as the diesel powered KX019. Furthermore, the working range of KX019-4 LPG provides an operational amplitude and guarantees a maximum digging depth of over two and a half meters which is sufficient for urban applications.
The development of this model is the answer from Kubota to the current anti-diesel trend, in which economy, practicality and environmental issues are all integrated. This machine, powered by the Kubota SI engine, will bring the most productive solution to urban work sites without having a considerable impact on the investment, or loss of productivity due to the refueling time, while delivering high performance, said the company.
New log handler
Liebherr’s LRS LH Reachstacker with sizeable stacking height and outreach made its debut at bauma. The machine’s main application is the fast, maneuverable and, in particular, mobile transport of logs within industrial plant premises and timber handling terminals. Especially in wood-processing companies such as sawmills, paper or pulp mills, but also for transshipment in ports and inland ports, the Liebherr log handler is considered to be a robust, reliable and powerful machine.
Several test devices have already demonstrated their capabilities to selected customers. The LRS LH has an impressive grapple capacity of 8.2 m² and an unprecedented load curve, said company officials. The working area of the machine is characterized by a stacking height and an outreach of over 8 meters each.
The new LH combines the advantages of the well-known LRS series for container handling, with a wide range of modifications specially designed for timber handling. Thanks to numerous parallels to the common reach-stacker, the construction of the new device benefits from previous experiences.
The log handler is equipped with a stepless, hydrostatic drive, characterized above by reduced fuel consumption and excellent driving performance. In addition, the Liebherr Pactronic hybrid drive system fitted as standard in the unit enables a temporary increase in performance without additional fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, if required. The sustainable hybrid drive therefore reduces the emission of CO2 and other harmful substances. The fuel saving is achieved through complete utilization of the regenerative energy and surplus power in the system. The Pactronic system from Liebherr is an impressive power booster and smooths the path towards goods handling with high efficiency and low emissions.
