The new 12MTX hybrid excavator from
Mecalac Ahlmann. With its 51 k W
Cummins diesel engine and
Heinzmann hybrid electric drive
system, the excavator will
not need exhaust aftertreatment for NOx
emissions in 2012.
BY ROBERTA PRANDI German engine governors and controls specialist Heinzmann GmbH & Co. KG has deep
German roots, but the name of its full
line of hybrid drives comes from the
Greek word “hyperion,” meaning “
beyond.” Built for industrial engine applications, the Hyperion line is designed to
boost vehicle performance “beyond” the
power supplied by a conventional combustion engine.
Frank Böhler, Heinzmann’s product
manager for electric drives, said the core
of the company’s hybrid offering is the
electric motor/generator. “It combines
the know-how of Heinzmann’s Engine
and Turbine Management division with
that of the Electric Drives division.
“Our available electric machines
offer either 15 k W continuous power
HYBRID DRIVES FOR INDUSTRIAL
ENGINES REACH HYPER-HEIGHTS
and 30 k W peak power, or 30 k W continuous power and 60 k W peak. We are
currently developing a model with 50
and 100 k W, respectively. For variable
speed generators we can cover from 1
to 10 kW with our brushless disc
motors,” said Böhler.
The company supplies not only the
electric machines, but a full system composed of a diesel control unit, inverter,
dc/dc converter and system control unit.
Heinzmann has developed three different hybrid drives — a diesel-electric, a
petrol-electric and an LPG/CNG-electric
system. Among the different configurations, the company has selected the mild
hybrid concept for general industrial
applications with the electric motor
directly coupled to the combustion
engine. This assembly has a greater
advantage in space requirements, as
the Heinzmann electric motor is coupled
to the engine instead of the flywheel, taking up only 80 mm more than the original
combustion engine’s size, Böhler said.
For specific customer requirements,
full hybrids and serial hybrid systems are
also available from Heinzmann.
Heinzmann recently formed a cooperation with Volkswagen Industrial Engines, which has led to a hybrid-electric
application for a Linde forklift truck. The
venture seems to be proceeding in the
right direction, and another application
in a municipality vehicle by Ladog
Fahrzeugbau GmbH was expected to
be launched in 2009.
Heinzmann has also formed partnerships with other equipment manufacturers, the latest being a diesel-electric
mild hybrid concept for a hydraulic
excavator for French manufacturer
