Application of design parameters space search for belt conveyor design

Abstract

Belt conveyor design is examined as an application of a proposed Design Parameters Space Search technique. First, the main characteristics of the belt-conveyor design process are presented as they appear in the current literature. Furthermore, a proposed general knowledge-representation platform is described, and its ability to house the relevant conveyor design knowledge is also shown. Next, the extended search technique of the design space is discussed, and an integrated example of a belt-conveyor design is presented, based on the proposed representation platform and the extended search technique. Finally, it is shown that the design of belt conveyors according to the proposed approach presents the following significant advantages: • • Due to the knowledge-representation scheme adopted, both qualitative and quantitative knowledge can be used within the same platform. • • Multiple solutions can be easily produced through user-defined design criteria. These solutions can be further modified and/or evaluated to produce more-specific designs. • • The required for user-input data is kept to a minimum. Due to the applied extended search method, semiautomatic design can be achieved. As a consequence, the design process is completed in less time than that required by the conventional methods.