I suppose you could say how much money you have spend on your project.

Pipe conveyors require more electric power, drive unit power and stronger belting to drive the heavier belt and heavier idlers.

Capsule pipelines do not require conveyor belt, conventional or vulcanised splices, idlers, head pulleys, tail pulleys, drive units, emergency stops, tranfer points, foundations for transfer points, tail pulleys or drive units, conveyor belt covers, labor to shovel spillage or grease the belt line, no belt training is required nor are training idlers required at every ten troughing or return idlers.

The capsule pipeline does not require the huge amounts of electrical amperage to drive the pipe conveyor over that length

of transfer. the capsule pipeline will also allow you to generate electricity using synchronus electric motors on the return trip.

All this is accomplished with a cushion of air to move capsules from point A to B and back.

The capsule pipeline is unaffected by weather as well as it is entirely enclosed and less likely to be damaged by trouble makers.

To look at an existing capsule pipeline in use that replaced a rail line from a quarry to a cement plant in japan go to:

www.capsu.org

and look at: www.pnuetrans.net they will give you a no obligation free quote for a complete system after you fill out

their questionaire.

I do not represent pnuetrans in any form. ■

HI,

I FEEL BELT RATING AND STRUCTURAL ALIGNMENT PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN SELECTING LONG DISTANCE PIPE CONVEYOR.

THANKS ■

Dear Mr. Phil Staples,

The general answer about the pipe conveyor length limitation could be to size and decide the tension in belt for a particular installation. Then refer the top class manufacturer of belt for availability of the belt to suit the tension and its suitability for pipe formation. If the belt is available to suit the said conditions, then pipe conveyor could be feasible. The techno-commercial issue for choosing pipe conveyor or other conveying means, is a separate issue.

To me it seems if the belt is available and if it is suitable for pipe formation, then the belt stability issue can be possibly tackled by using the appropriate / larger radius at the curvature. Obviously, such issues to be analysed and decided in context of specific case, by using the data / information from the concerned supplier of the belt. This cannot be decided by designer of pipe conveyor alone.

The people with more experience in this matter may be able to give a more specific answer.

Regards,

Ishwar G Mulani.

Author of Book : Engineering Science and Application Design for Belt Conveyors.

Author of Book : Belt Feeder Design and Hopper Bin Silo

Advisor / Consultant for Bulk Material Handling System & Issues.

Email : parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in

Tel.: 0091 (0)20 25882916 ■

Dear Mr. Phil Staples,

Pipe conveyor is a well-known subject for you, but I would like to add following points in my earlier reply, for general information for the readers:

- If the modulus of elasticity applicable to longitudinal direction for specific construction of belt, is known then designer can assess the forces situation in pipe formation. But this will demand belt testing or previous data.

- Pipe formation within the idler is one issue. The second issue is pipe expansion between the idlers. The expansion magnitude will depend upon the modulus of elasticity, thickness, belt tension and idler pitch. This expansion beyond limit will result in to more drag, higher tractive pull and more wear of overlapping edges. All these issues are to be given the considerations in totality. This may demand certain testing for suitability of particular belt for particular size of conveyor. The issue is complex and simplistic approach could be risky.

Regards,

Ishwar G Mulani.

Author of Book : Engineering Science and Application Design for Belt Conveyors.

Author of Book : Belt Feeder Design and Hopper Bin Silo

Advisor / Consultant for Bulk Material Handling System & Issues.

Email : parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in

Tel.: 0091 (0)20 25882916 ■

DEAR FORUM MEMBERS,

I HAVE FEW QUERRY IN MY MIND REGARDING PIPE CONVEYOR

LENGTH.

PLEASE UPDATE THE FOLLOWING:-

1) LONGEST PIPE CONVEYOR IN THE WORLD AND INDIA?

2)SMALLEST PIPE CONVEYOR IN THE WORLD AND INDIA?

PLEASE ALSO GIVE BRIEF DETAIL ON PIPE DIA , INCLINATION,

LOCATION,CAPACITY,MATERIAL HANDLED AND COUNTRY ETC.

IS IT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ROUND SHAPE BELT ON THE RETURN SIDE OR CAN WE USE FLAT BELT.

IS THERE ANY OPERATIONAL PROBLEM ?

THANKS ■

Dear Mr Staples

Regarding maximum length of pipe conveyor from technical point is really only that of belt tensile strength and available belts and installed power requirement.

When a pipe belt is say 10km you have the same problems as 5km only the coat and magnitude is more, both of these are in a diferent league to say 300m

Paul Holt

Dosco Overseas Eng Ltd ■

Dear sir

I believe the longest pipe conveyor in the world will be the 8.2km cement and clinker system in Peru, in India it is 3.2km at Birla.

The smallest lengths are recorded at less than 10m.

Paul Holt

Dosco Overseas Eng Ltd. ■

Dear Mr. Holt,

Do you know if the Lima Cement conveyor has been wet commissioned? ■

Dear Mr Holt,

Thanks for the information.

Where this 10 M pipe conveyor is installed ?

Can we provide flat belt on the return side of the pipe conveyor ?

If not why ?

thanks ■

Dear sirs

1. I am not aware if the Lima system has been commissioned or not at this time.

2. There are several pipe conveyors of around 10m in length installed in Japan but really the benefit in this case is questionable.

3. Yes it is possible to have the return belt as flat belt, also there are several installations particularly in Japan where the carrying side is flat or (trough) and the return is a pipe to reduce return side spillage, however in both these cases there are limitations i.e. horizontal curves are restricted and you lose the benefit of narrow structure of the pipe conveyor and having to have wide frame for the flat belt.

Paul Holt

Dosco Overseas Eng Ltd. ■

Dear Mr Paul Holt

In India longest pipe conveyor of 7 km length is being installed in Jindal Group. Carring capacity is 1500 MPH coal in carring side and 600 MPH fly ash to be handlled in return side.

Regarding maximum length of pipe conveyor from technical point structural alignment,belt speed,nos of curves in the belt are also impotant facters to be considered.

Rajesh Verma ■

Dear Rajesh Verma

Yes I am aware of this 7km I have done initial study with our Indian associates but as I understand it has not been awarded yet and is not yet underway.

Paul Holt ■

Dear Mr. Holt,

You are very much correct. In INDIA, longest pipe conveyor in operation is in Birla copper & its length is 3.2 KM.

FFE is going to installed 7KM pipe conveyor for Alumina plant for Vedant. They are working on it.

Regards.

A.Banerjee ■

Dear Sir,

I would like to know critical things of alignement of pipe conveyor having nos of horizontal and vertical curves in 7 km length carrying capacity around 1500 mt per hr

rajesh verma ■