Brief encounter with Water Sprinkler!

It was around noon that as I entered SCCL’s Manuguru OCP, I felt a blanket of dust enveloping the mines.  A series of large-size Komatsu Mining Trucks was making way on haul roads transporting OB. Behind this convoy, a giant Komatsu Water Sprinkler WT 80KL caught my attention. This was the first time that I saw such a huge sprinkler in action! The sprinkler was moving on the haul roads throwing water in a symmetric style  to suppress the rising dust in the mines. As a result, we could  feel the fall in the heat and the smell of the moist mud caught my nostrils making me feel delighted! 

I learnt that this large-size sprinkler model has been developed as a retro-fitment on a used dumper HD785-7, manufactured by Komatsu India Pvt. Ltd. at its Chennai plant.  This will enhance the life of used dumpers, which otherwise would have been surveyed off.

The sprinkling device, fitted on the back of the machine, holds a spraying capacity of 18 m wide and 9.5 m away. This larger sprinkler covers the maximum area of haul roads reducing the number of passes and eventually saving fuel. A water-cannon fitted as a fire-fighting machine is also suitable for washing trucks. The water-cannon attachment is mounted on the front side of the machine, operated hydraulically at about 90 deg slew and 70 deg elevation to throw water to cover 60 m.

This innovative product integrates water sprinkler and cannon system with Komatsu’s Dump Truck HD785-7 which is a proven model for its performance in the mining industry. I felt that this initiative reflects Komatsu and Larsen & Toubro’s deep commitment to sustainability, environmental protection and safer operations.