Experimental Tests of Selected Constituents of Movement Resistance of the Belt Conveyors Used in the Underground Mining

Abstract

During the design of conveyor belts, optimization attempts are taken firstly to reduce the energy consumption, this is obtained by reducing the main resistances of the conveyor. The biggest savings of energy may be expected in rational belts and idlers selection, and in some cases in unconventional solutions of the route, stretching and spillover equipment. The tests on movement resistance of the belt conveyor, carried out over recent years in the Machinery Systems Department of the Wrocław University of Technology, allowed to define precisely the impact of many construction and operational factors on the energy consumption of transport. At present, research work is carried out, oriented to find the optimal solutions for the belt conveyors used in underground mines. Due to different capacity values, construction that is more compact, more difficult installation and operation conditions, the solutions developed for open-pit mining cannot be directly adopted. The paper proposes a stand test methodology on the identification of key constituents of belt conveyor movement resistance and presents the results of pilot experimental tests. These tests aimed to define the optimal construction features of energy saving on the conveyor belt, having low resistance of rolling on idlers and bending resistance on pulleys under underground mine conditions.