Improved Energy Efficiency in Troughed Belt Conveyors: Selected Factors and Effects

Abstract

Power consumption in belt conveyor systems can be reduced at the design phase which can result in an improved design from both economic and environmental points of view. This study investigates the effect of various design factors on the power demand of a long belt conveyor using general factorial experiment techniques. Power demand values for a 1 km long horizontal troughed conveyor were simulated using Sidewinder Conveyor Design according to the DIN/ ISO methodology, and further analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques to test the effect of each factor on power consumption. The study shows that power consumption of belt conveyor systems is significantly affected by the operating belt speed, ambient temperature, idler roll material and diameter, in addition to the idler spacing along the belt. In contrast, trough angle and idler bearing type did not prove to have significant effect on power demand.