Wear Analysis for Ring Chain of a Heavy-Load Scraper Conveyor under Different Environment Media

Abstract

The wear characteristics and related mechanisms of the ring chain of a scraper chain were investigated. Multiple sets of wear tests were performed to simulate the working environment of a heavy-load scraper conveyor. The wear characteristics of the ring chain in different environmental media (acid, alkaline, neutral electrolyte solution, deionized water, and pulverized coal mixture) were tested. The finite element method was employed to analyze the 3D contact behaviors between the ring chain and sprocket to validate the test results. The results indicate that wear of the ring chain without pulverized coal is higher than that with pulverized coal in the same solution medium and decreases as the pH value of the electrolyte solution increases; in addition, wear of the ring chain in the electrolyte solution is generally higher than that in deionized water. Results of the finite element analysis show that the elliptical high stress distribution occurs on the outer side of the arc part of the horizontal ring and the inner side of the arc part of the vertical ring, which is consistent with the wear test results. The wear characteristics of the ring chain under different chain speeds and loads were investigated. Based on the experimental data and the appearance of the samples after the experiment, the distribution diagram of the wear mechanism of the ring chain in a typical mine environment with acidic electrolyte solution and pulverized coal mixture is established. This diagram is divided into three regions: a slight wear region, a moderate wear region, and a severe wear region.