I congratulate Northern Life on outlining the
positive developments of fuel cell technology application to a
small scale research loader (Dec. 21 edition).
I would draw your attention to the fact that
the Fuel Cell Propulsion Institute is leading a consortium
which has already designed a fuel cell mine production
LHD.
This equipment will be available for testing
underground at Placer Dome's Getchel Mine, Newmont's Elko Mine
and Inco's South Mine in late 2004 or early 2005. More
information can be obtained at www.fuelcellpropulsion.org
Several related mining projects have been
carried out during the last five years including the mine
locomotive, the world's first in-use fuel cell industrial
vehicle.
Beyond this omission, I would point out that
a reduced scale, fully operational mini-loader has already been
built, tested and continues to be part of Carleton University's
undergraduate mechanical engineering final class project,
guided by NRCan and the Fuel Cell Propulsion.
Marc C. Betournay
Senior Scientist
CANMET
NRCan