water tanks Archives - International Mining

Philippi-Hagenbuch is planning to highlight its patented HiVol® Water Tanks, along with other custom-engineered off-highway haul truck solutions, at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 event in Las Vegas this week.

HiVol Water Tanks feature a stable, square design that improves stability and maximises hauling capacity, according to the company. Each tank is custom engineered to haul the greatest possible volume for the specific make and model of off-highway articulated or rigid frame haul truck.

The tanks also feature easy-to-use, operator-friendly controls and the ability to spray the entire width of a haul road with one pass. HiVol Water Tanks are built with a superior-grade steel for increased longevity and maximum return on investment, the company says.

Philippi-Hagenbuch engineers HiVol Water Tanks for new haul trucks and as a retrofit for older trucks. Operations often incorporate the tanks onto their ageing haul trucks to convert them to water trucks, extending equipment life.

“After years of hauling heavy material and absorbing loading impact, even the sturdiest haul trucks experience wear on the suspension, frame and tyres,” the company says. “Making the change to hauling water eases this burden and extends the life of the haul truck, helping operations maximise their equipment investment.”

Unlike traditional round and trapezoidal water tanks, which typically use only 80% of the truck’s capacity to prevent dangerous churning, HiVol Water Tanks incorporate a square design that lowers the centre of gravity and maximises the haul truck’s capabilities, according to Philippi-Hagenbuch. The company engineers each tank to achieve the lowest weight and greatest possible hauling capacity. This can range up to 60,000 gallons (272,765 litres) – more than half the capacity of a water tower.

The square design, along with internal side-surge stabilisers and a baffling system that results in full compartmentalisation of the water, minimises churning to improve vehicle stability, the company added.

Philippi-Hagenbuch custom engineers each HiVol Water Tank to fit the specific make and model of the haul truck and to match the unique needs of the operation. Each tank features corrosion-resistant Hardox® 450 steel from SSAB, which is over 300% harder and more corrosion-resistant than the steel used in most other water tanks on the market, equating to an exceptionally long water tank life, the company claims.

Philippi-Hagenbuch water tanks feature rear-mounted spray heads, an optional remote-controlled water cannon and individual in-cab analogue controls that are straightforward and easy to use, the company says

HiVol Water Tanks utilising Hardox HiAce acidic-resistant steel are also available as an option for highly acidic environments. Philippi-Hagenbuch also offers an insulated water tank design for cold weather conditions, with optional heating for use in environments as cold as -40°F/C.

Josh Swank, Philippi-Hagenbuch Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said: “After more than 23 years on the market, none of our water tanks are showing signs of rust, corrosion or failure. The high-quality steel ensures they won’t rust or wear down quickly. Most water tanks on the market only last 5-7 years, but the first water tanks we engineered are still out on the job site today.

“We are proud to explain why we exclusively use Hardox steel throughout our water tanks, and that we have decades worth of water tanks still operating around the world. This proves why our design coupled with superior steel create a water tank that is second to none.”

Philippi-Hagenbuch water tanks feature rear-mounted spray heads, an optional remote-controlled water cannon and individual in-cab analogue controls that are straightforward and easy to use, the company says. This provides the operator with precise – yet simplified – water control. The horizontal spray heads operate separately, allowing the use of any or all spray heads at the same time. The remote-controlled water cannon enables operators to spray water from 150-200 ft (46-61 m) away.

The HiVol Water Tanks’ patented design minimises confined space issues and provides easy maintenance access by incorporating full-sized exterior and interior access doors as well as access points at the top of the tank. All interior doors include rustproof pivots and allow unobstructed flow of clean air and natural light throughout the tank, according to Philippi-Hagenbuch. To negate potential fall risks, the tanks incorporate a unique flat-top design that is easy to walk on when personnel are required to gain access to the top of the tank.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 runs from March 14-18 in Las Vegas, USA.

Austin Engineering says it has commissioned the first of its high-performance truck-mounted water tanks which, the manufacturer claims, is the biggest water truck in Australia.

The result of a significant re-design process, the new Stairway Access Tank (SAT) includes several features to improve efficiency, operator safety and truck stability, Austin said.

Custom-built to suit most haul trucks, the new SAT starts at 14,000 litre capacity and includes all spray equipment along with the company’s “Water Wise” system.

The first tank off the production line has a 198,000 litre capacity fitted to a CAT 793C haul truck and is claimed to be the biggest water truck in Australia.

The most obvious external feature of the Austin water tank is a stairway from the top of the tank structure down to a large (137 cm x 259 cm) access port for easy entry and exit for personnel and maintenance equipment to the tank interior. The fill port is located behind the water dam to ensure any overflow flows away from the cab and deck to the rear of the truck, Austin says.

Inside the tank, the design of the new Austin SAT directly tackles the safety concerns surrounding the confined workspace in mine site water tanks, addressed by a recently-completed 10-year study by the US-based National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Part of the NIOSH study looked at operator access to the tank and ease of movement once inside, according to Austin.

“Traditional access inside the tank has been through a series of semi-circular portholes in the baffle system which, although adequate, slowed access and movement, especially in the case of an emergency,” the company said. “The diameter of the portholes – generally 600 mm wide x 740 mm high – also restricted operator manoeuvrability and the physical size of any equipment that could be used inside the tanks.”

The new SAT from Austin features a series of oversize rectangular access ports – 630 mm wide x 1,550 mm high – throughout a unique baffle system to replace the traditional portholes and significantly improve operator safety and comfort inside the tank, it said.

The engineered corrugated baffle system, which interlocks the baffles for increased structural integrity, controls both transverse and longitudinal water surging and reduces the overturning forces by 19% to improve truck stability, according to Austin. Maximum overturning force is delayed by about one second – providing an increase in the time to react to any side force, it explained.

The design of the corrugated baffle system also allows for a lighter-weight tank, which translates to additional payload and lower operating costs. Additionally, the alignment of the oversize access ports, combined with the horizontal baffle system, gives unobstructed movement within the tank, Austin claims.

To improve the worksite environment inside the tank during maintenance periods an air exchange system has also been developed for the tank.

Philippi-Hagenbuch to talk up HiVol Water Tank longevity at CONEXPO

Austin Engineering commissions Australia’s ‘biggest water tank’