The Russian enterprise "Kaluga Engine" has completed the assembly of a gas turbine unit running on liquefied natural gas. Currently, the engine is being tested on a 90-ton BelAZ mining dump truck. This was reported by the Belarusian Embassy in Moscow.
Commissioning is complete, everything is ready for operation at the test site. According to the plan, the equipment should work for 200 hours. The developers assure that the new system is easier to maintain and more economical than conventional diesel engines. In addition, it is less harmful to the environment.
The unit's power is 1200 hp. It runs on methane and is not afraid of temperature changes. Inside there is a power module with a free turbine. It rotates a synchronous generator, which transmits energy to the motor-wheels of a 90-ton payload dump truck.
Gas turbine drive is more profitable than traditional solutions. An LNG engine requires less maintenance costs and has a high service life. Operation on methane reduces emissions of harmful substances, which is important for quarries with enclosed spaces.
