I recommend you request a quotation from Veyance Technology using their patented CONFINE pipe conveyor construction.

A 7.7 km pipe conveyor will be a significant piece of machinery. Can you design it? Do you want more help than belt and motor size?

Does the conveyor negotiate vertical and horizontal curvatures? If so, their sizes and angles will be very important in the design. ■

Sorry,

Contact Dr. Robin Steven, at Veyance technologies, for a quote and design assistance.

robinsteven@veyance.com ■

Originally Posted by nordell

A 7.7 km pipe conveyor will be a significant piece of machinery. Can you design it?

Doubt it, that's why he wants some free consultancy ■

If you tell what you designed, then we can see value in an answer.

Items of interest are:

1. Pipe size

2. Belt Strength

3. Belt covers - top & bottom thickness

4. Idler diameter, spacing, drag value used, bearing sizes

5. Take-up force - gravity or winch

6. Motor sizes and locations - Synchronous speed

7. Demand power on each motor

8. Pulley sizes and locations

Then we can tell if you are truly a designer and we will know the value of spending our precious time to assist where you might need help.

What happened to Mr. Staples? What is Mr. Nayak doing these days? ■

I will assess your design and I thank you for the public support.

Three additional points are required:

1. I previously asked about horizontal and vertical curve radii. Since you are applying a pipe design, all curve radii apply pressure against the idler rolls. The belt is deformed during this process. Energy will be lost, belt tension and power will increase. The pressures will also increase idler drag.

Do you have vertical and horizontal radii? If so we need to know the geometries: a) radii, b) type of radii by location from tail station, and c) length of arc of each radii.

If there are no radii, the process will be simple.

2. Operating temperature range - high and low design limits.

3. Belt supplier - if Phoenix-Yule. We have a new ContiTech rubber compound they claim has supper low rolling resistance properties. This may come from Germany and not be available in India.

Phoenix and Conti seem to operate independently. I do not know if they share rubber technologies.

Phoenix believes that pipe conveyors do not warrant special low rolling efficient rubber covers.

This new Conti rubber has never been installed to my knowledge. There is no record of its performance and durability.

I have old Phoenix rubber compounds from other projects that compare with one another. The rubbers have very different rolling energy consumption. Please advise on how you will chose or what rubber you will chose. If you do not know, ask Phoenix or Conti.

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Mr. Phil Staples works as a consultant to Elecon, just as I used to do. I therefore asked you if he was involved on your project. By your answer, I believe not. Why wouldn't you ask him the question of performance? Maybe he will charge for it?

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Small additional data required is your limestone bulk density? ■

My preliminary analysis indicates you DO NOT have sufficient power, take-up tension or belt strength to transport limestone at 1500 t/h over 7700 m with a 54.4 m drop not including any curve conditions or special loading cases.

You drive system should also be modified.

What belt safety factor will you apply? 4:1, 5:1, 6:1 OR 7:1? According to your specification, I have assumed the belt is a steel cord construction.

Applying horizontal and vertical curve radii will increase the error (difference).

If the conveyor undulates up and down, then other factors may also need to be considered. Horizontal deviations will have a different power and tension impact.

If you continue to provide all the data request, I will show you, in simple terms, the error of your approach or I will learn where I am wrong and appologize for any alarm I have caused. ■

Very unusual pulley arrangement. I do not see the logic of this arrangement. Nine pulleys are used. Why? ■

OH, OH!

Now Phil knows and he is not a happy man.

I doubt we will hear from you again. Good Luck.

Peace. ■

Through simple calculation, power and belt strength is not enough. ■

Dear Shri Nainesh Patel,

The design of the pipe conveyor mentioned by you requires specialised design engineering knowledge about the pipe conveyors and belt conveyors. If you already have certain design knowledge about this equipment, then possibly you can work out preliminary values about the power, likely belt, etc. for your general assessment, etc. However if you are manufacturer then it will be too much to create design and construction based on the information from the forum. In that case it would be advisable to involve those who are regular designer for such class of equipment.

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.

Pune, India.

Tel.: 0091 (0)20 25871916

Email: parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in ■

Dear Shri Nainesh Patel,

While giving earlier reply, I missed to see the complete communication by others. So the information in the aforesaid reply is likely to look somewhat out of context. My apology to all the readers for the same.

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.

Pune, India.

Tel.: 0091 (0)20 25871916

Email: parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in ■

Dear Mr Patel

I agree with Mr Nordell your power calculation is low by a large proportion.

Also depending on your density a diameter 400mm may be better. Diameter 350mm is running quite fast.

Paul Holt

Greenbank Group UK ■

Dear Paul,

Phil has caught the young man posting, and adminstered a few harse explicitives, together with other cruel and unusual punishments.

Elecon may be a little concerned and should seek a second opinion. We will see now that others are voicing alarm.

In our opinion, the conveyor can work depending on some critical specifications, where the belt is purchased, and to what construction techniques. I do believe he may be thinking about it not working and will search deeper for more understanding. ■

Dear Lawrence

Yes I agree it can work with the correct belt, installed power and design perameters. As always should be correctly designed. ■