Energy recuperation as one of the factors improving the energy efficiency of mining battery locomotives

Mining industry is currently one of the biggest industries in the world. All mines produce “indispensable” minerals, starting from fuels such as coal and ending with noble metals such as gold or copper. Mines in the world compete in the volumes of mined minerals what requires use of state-of-the-art, more efficient and, and what is more important, safer machines. Such trend favors development of technology and mobilize engineers to adapt the technologies that were used so far in easier environment to the needs of the mining industry. The article presents the issue of energy recuperation in mining battery locomotives. Simulation tests of the power supply and control system of the Lea type battery locomotive are discussed. The results of tests on the electric energy consumption of the locomotive during the operational change in the mine were presented, which were referred to the simulation results. Factors influencing the efficiency of energy recovery and the risk resulting from hydrogen emission in the recuperation process have been indicated. Also discussed is the study of the concentration of hydrogen concentration emitted from the battery of lead-acid cells during their recharging in the process of electrical braking with energy recuperation.