{"id":12394,"date":"2021-08-04T20:21:46","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T20:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/?p=12394"},"modified":"2021-08-04T20:21:46","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T20:21:46","slug":"lithium-needed-for-hybrid-mining-equipment-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/lithium-needed-for-hybrid-mining-equipment-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithium Needed for Hybrid Mining Equipment Batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LithiumOne of our most popular blog articles addresses the most common types of mining equipment<\/a>, including mining drills, blasting tools, earth movers, crushing equipment, as well as feeding, conveying and on-line elemental analysis equipment.<\/a> All these common mining tools are crucial to the industry and assist in getting the job done efficiently and cost effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mining trucks are also one of the most important pieces of equipment, of course. These powerful haulers have to move heavy materials, including tons of rocks, in harsh environments, so they have to have powerful engines. These engines are usually run on diesel fuel.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration<\/a>, most of the diesel fuel produced and consumed in the United States is refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries. Unfortunately, the Administration also reports that<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“…diesel fuel… produces many harmful emissions when it is burned, and diesel-fueled vehicles are major sources of harmful pollutants, such as ground-level ozone and particulate matter.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that in 2019, diesel (distillate) fuel consumption in the U.S. transportation sector resulted in the emission of 456 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas<\/a>. This amount was equal to about 24% of total U.S. transportation sector CO2 emissions and equal to nearly 9% of total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Some good news was found in a recent International Mining<\/em> news article which indicated that hybrid drive mining trucks<\/a>, utilizing lithium-ion batteries are in the works to help the environment.<\/p>\n

With their typical operating cycle — hauling loads uphill and returning to the loading position usually the same way downhill — mining trucks provide the opportunity to recuperate a considerable amount of energy downhill and store it in batteries. Depending on the topographic profile of the individual mine, up to 30% diesel fuel savings, respectively GHG reductions, are possible….<\/em>The batteries are recharged by recuperating braking energy when going downhill. This stored energy is used to provide power to the mining truck when going uphill loaded, which leads to fuel savings and allows for the downsizing of the truck’s engine.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have become the energy storage solution of choice for portable electronic devices such as laptops and smart phones. The emergence of electric and hybrid vehicles has furthered interest in new battery technologies that offer improved performance. Electric and hybrid electric vehicle manufacturers are driving demand for lithium, graphite, and cobalt, the three primary components needed to make rechargeable lithium batteries. <\/p>\n

Developing the batteries will be crucial to the success of these vehicles.  Several years ago we wrote about the need for the mining industry to address the demand from the automotive industry for lithium. (Read Where Will All the Lithium Needed for Electric Cars Be Mined?<\/em><\/a>) Lithium is a common but poorly concentrated mineral. Because traditional hard-rock mining<\/a> of lithium-bearing pegmatite and spodumene is a costly and time-intensive endeavor, most lithium is produced by the evaporation of highly concentrated lithium brine, an easier and more profitable method. (Read Lithium Mining Today May Influence What You Drive In the Future<\/em><\/a>.)<\/p>\n

However, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2020<\/a>, <\/em><\/p>\n

“The only lithium production in the United States was from a brine operation in Nevada. Two companies produced a wide range of downstream lithium compounds in the United States from domestic or imported lithium carbonate, lithium chloride, and lithium hydroxide….<\/em><\/p>\n

Six mineral operations in Australia, two brine operations each in Argentina and Chile, and one brine and one mineral operation in China accounted for the majority of world lithium production. Owing to overproduction and decreased prices, several established lithium operations postponed capacity expansion plans. Junior mining operations in Australia, Canada, and Namibia ceased production altogether. Lithium supply security has become a top priority for technology companies in the United States and Asia. Strategic alliances and joint ventures among technology companies and exploration companies continued to be established to ensure a reliable, diversified supply of lithium for battery suppliers and vehicle manufacturers. Brine-based lithium sources were in various stages of development in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, and the United States; mineral based lithium sources were in various stages of development in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Congo (Kinshasa), Czechia, Finland, Germany, Mali, Namibia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, and Zimbabwe; and lithium-clay sources were in various stages of development in Mexico and the United States.<\/em><\/p>\n

Another factor is the development of the batteries themselves. Critical to the advancement of the battery is the emergence of higher quality separator film, coating of the separator film for higher efficiency, and the uniform coating of the anode and cathode materials. The coating thickness and weight must be uniform to ensure a longer-lasting and safer battery.  <\/span>There are <\/span>measurement and control systems<\/a> that have been specifically designed to address the need for accurate electrode coating weight measurement, multilayer thickness measurement of separator films and electrode calendering thickness measurement. This web gauging technology can help battery producers address these three important processes involved in <\/span>Lithium-ion battery manufacturing<\/a>,<\/span> which will help improve their safety, consistency and efficiency, and ultimately to deliver high quality, reliable products.<\/span><\/p>\n

High quality to help low emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional Reading:<\/em><\/p>\n