Re: Conveyor System Preservation
To:
1) Anything that can move should be periodically moved. Insist that the plant is run about once a week, with scrapers relaxed;
2) If the belt is not covered there will be accelerated sunlight and ozone attack: no matter what claims are made to the contrary;
3) Depreciation is subject to historical untruths. Just because the system has been inoperative does not mean it has not got older. Also if the equipment is of the best quality and carries a higher CAPEX, the expected longer life means nought to a buyer who expects a bargain anyway. In-house depreciation should not concern you in the slightest, unless it was you who closed the plant down.
Issues such as condensation cycles and subsequent crust formation should be mitigated by periodic running alongside observation. Your problem is far less than shipping operation where the machine stands idle for long periods and is poised to fail as soon as it is expected to work unless it has been run periodically and maintenance logs have been kept and acted on. ■
John Gateley johngateley@hotmail.com www.the-credible-bulk.com
Thanks...
Originally Posted by johngateley
1) anything that can move should be periodically moved. Insist that the plant is run about once a week, with scrapers relaxed;
2) if the belt is not covered there will be accelerated sunlight and ozone attack: No matter what claims are made to the contrary;
3) depreciation is subject to historical untruths. Just because the system has been inoperative does not mean it has not got older. Also if the equipment is of the best quality and carries a higher capex, the expected longer life means nought to a buyer who expects a bargain anyway. In-house depreciation should not concern you in the slightest, unless it was you who closed the plant down.
Issues such as condensation cycles and subsequent crust formation should be mitigated by periodic running alongside observation. Your problem is far less than shipping operation where the machine stands idle for long periods and is poised to fail as soon as it is expected to work unless it has been run periodically and maintenance logs have been kept and acted on.
i appreciate your positive response sir! ■
Re: Conveyor System Preservation
Hello,
Earlier respondents have given good technical information, summarising the rule that 'Anything that moves should be moved periodically'. I am adding some non-technical aspects, which would be of interest for those who are not exposed to such situation.
Incidentally, my first job, some 5 decades before, was in a high class glass sheets manufacturing plant, having elaborate material handling system. Their problem was that 4 months production was enough for sale during a year, and thereby the plant had to remain idle for around 8 months. So, some observations were as below:
1) Plant security personnel are present round the year.
2) Product sales related plant personnel, for sending out product, in response to the orders, are present round the year.
3) Plant operating senior staff are also present regularly during operation and casually during non-operation as per the pre-decided guidelines. These people cannot be retrenched, because specialists will not be available when needed.
4) Foremen (i.e. workmen heads) are present. Lower rank labourers and staff (including junior engineers) are retrenched.
5) So as can be seen, 'plant under no-production' does not mean desolate and silent place.
6) So, the rule 'Anything that can be moved' was implemented, for empty running of items, appropriately. Plant was regularly cleaned.
Fortunately my experience of idle plant plus running plant, ended total in a year.
Ishwar G. Mulani
Author of Book: ‘Engineering Science And Application Design For Belt Conveyors’. Conveyor design basis is ISO (thereby book is helpful to design conveyors as per national standards of most of the countries across world). New print Nov., 2012.
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: conveyor.ishwar.mulani@gmail.com
Website: www.conveyor.ishwarmulani.com ■
Conveyor system preservation
Respected Seniors & dear friends,
If a Coal conveyor system is to remain inoperative for around a year, Please enlighten regarding:
1. Areas/equipment which require preservation and how to do it. (Conveyor Belt, Gear Box, Fluid couplings, Scrappers, etc)
2. conveyor Equipment that will face unwanted Depreciation.
3. Best practice to reduce depreciation.
Please note that I want guidance only regarding conveyors and its aux equipment. ■