E-mail Article
Print Article
The Mecalac 12MTX won two Intermat Innovation Awards, the Gold Award for Innovation in the Machinery category, as well as the Special Environmental Prize Green Award.
Two major components on the machine resulted in Mecalac’s victories, Heinzmann’s hybrid drive and Cummins B3.3 engine.
Heinzmann developed together with Mecalac and Cummins the 15/30 kW electric motor and the corresponding electronics, which is located where the pump coupler flange is traditionally found. This motor is integrated in the fly wheel casing of the Cummins B3.3 engine and provides the powerful performance at reduced fuel consumption and reduced emissions. It offers the same 74 kW performance, even though it is only fitted with a 51 kW diesel engine. This performance is made possible thanks to the 15/30 kW electric generator
The B3.3 engine from Cummins Inc. powered the Mecalac 12MTX Hybrid wheeled excavator. The 68-hp (51 kW) rated 4-cylinder B3.3 engine drives an electrical generator and lithium-ion battery system to achieve 25% lower fuel consumption with reduced CO2 emissions and quieter operation.
The 9-ton 12MTX Hybrid is a highly versatile machine with the ability to operate as excavator, loader, materials handler and other functions with a quick change of tool attachments. Based on the compact and agile 12MTX, the hybrid version is the latest innovative machine from the Mecalac Ahlmann Group, who specializes in equipment ideally suited for city center construction sites with limited operating space.
The B3.3 engine incorporated within the diesel-electric system operates at an engine rpm speed optimized for fuel efficiency. The 68 hp (51 kW) mechanical power of the engine output is rated to match the average power requirement of the machine. When less than 68 hp is needed, the batteries are charged; when more than 68 hp is needed, the electric motor provides additional power up to 99 hp (74 kW). A power loop electronic control system ensures a seamless power adjustment between diesel engine and electric motor.
"We are extremely pleased to be working with Mecalac Ahlmann on the 12MTX Hybrid concept and congratulate them on their award-winning success at Intermat," comments Rainer Wissmanns, managing director of Cummins France S.A.
"The 12MTX Hybrid demonstrates how higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions can be achieved with innovative engineering. Our application engineers worked closely with the Mecalac Ahlmann design team and the generator supplier Heinzmann. This ensured that the B3.3 engine was fully integrated within the diesel-electric powertrain to realize the full potential of this impressive technology."
"As a result, the 12MTX Hybrid with a 68-hp engine offers the same power output and torque performance as the conventional diesel-powered 12MTX equipped with a Cummins engine rated at 98 hp," adds Wissmanns.
With a compact engine envelope, the B3.3 offers a useful space-saving advantage for the diesel-electric installation. The B3.3 is directly coupled to a 20/40-hp Heinzmann electric motor generator that is attached to the hydraulic pump as a common drive. The engine requires no starter or alternator. The diesel-electric system charges the 400V lithium-ion batteries that store the electric power. During machine braking, energy is recovered and transferred to the batteries. The diesel-electric hybrid architecture is designed to be simple and easy to maintain.
