Aspects of Selecting Appropriate Conveyor Belt Strength

Dariusz Woźniak,Monika Hardygóra

doi:10.3390/en14196018

Dariusz Woźniak, Monika Hardygóra

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196018

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Abstract

Breaks in the so-called “continuous” (unspliced) belt sections, and not in the spliced areas, are infrequent but do happen in practice. This article presents some aspects, which may account for such breaks in conveyor belts. It indicates the so-called “sensitive points” in design, especially in the transition section of the conveyor belt and in identifying the actual strength of the belt. The presented results include the influence of the width of a belt specimen on the identified belt tensile strength. An increase in the specimen width entails a decrease in the belt strength. The research involved develops a universal theoretical model of the belt on a transition section of a troughed conveyor in which, in the case of steel-cord belts, the belt is composed of cords and layers of rubber, and in the case of a textile belt, of narrow strips. The article also describes geometrical forces in the transition section of the belt and an illustrative analysis of loads acting on the belt. Attention was also devoted to the influence of the belt type on the non-uniform character of loads in the transition section of the conveyor. A replacement of a conveyor belt with a belt having different elastic properties may increase the non-uniformity of belt loads in the transition section of the conveyor, even by 100%.

Highlights

Belt conveyors are an indispensable means of transport in a number of industry branches–most importantly, in the extraction industry, in smelting and coking plants, and in power plants, and in the chemical industry, in civil engineering and in agriculture
As the safety factor used in the process of selecting belt strengths is relatively high, the above estimation seems appropriate
The aim of this article is not to modify any good practices developed in the context of designing and operating belt transportation, but rather to indicate the so-called “sensitive points.”

Summary

Introduction

Belt conveyors are an indispensable means of transport in a number of industry branches–most importantly, in the extraction industry, in smelting and coking plants, and in power plants, and in the chemical industry, in civil engineering and in agriculture. Belt conveyors are vital in shipping ports, where they are used to transport, load and unload bulk materials. Conveyor belt transportation systems are used both in surface and in underground mining. The belt is the most expensive part of the belt conveyor. Its purchase cost represents 50–60% of the cost of the entire conveyor. The belt is the least durable element of the conveyor. The belt is, an element crucial for the effective and reliable operation of the conveyor and significantly influences the transportation costs [1]

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