Pit & Quarry, August 2013
ELECTRIC ADVANTAGE Converting a diesel powered dredge to electric power offers benefits that go beyond cost savings C harlie Johnson dug deep to dredge up all the costs and benefits related to converting a dredge from diesel to electric power What he found in the process is a gold mine of benefits that can reduce costs and significantly increase revenue for dredge owners who decide to make the switch The conversion could reduce monthly energy costs as much a 60 percent based on 339 per gallon of diesel fuel Johnson says But the benefits dont stop there Electric motors require less maintenance the lifespan of the electric motor is much greater and elongating the dredge hull to accommodate an electric motor drive and transformer increases the degree of swing on the dredge so operators move the machine less often Johnson says You can also add increased LEED points gained through the conversion because you improve sustainability and introduce greener practices As director of sales at Louisianas Dredging Supply Co DSC Johnson wanted to be able to speak about converting from diesel to electricity from a hands on perspective Thats why his company completed its own virtual conversion of a diesel powered dredge to an electric powered dredge documenting every step related to equipment costs labor downtime and more The cost of our conversion was just over 1 million Johnson says But the change also resulted in increased tons per hour output up to as much as 7 percent Johnson says The payback period for our investment worked out to a little over 15 months In completing their virtual conversion Johnsons team gathered and compared details about fuel and electricity rates actual and projected fuel taxes and surcharges shipping costs field service costs and labor costs Johnson has used a 94 page presentation to explain how his company examined all aspects of the project costs and benefits Feasibility The first step in this process is to determine how feasible it is to convert your dredge from diesel to electric power Johnson says There are many different components on a dredge that require an engine or motor That includes the dredge pump cutter head swing winch and ser DREDGING BY LORETTA SORENSEN 18 PIT QUARRY August 2013 www pitandquarry com
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