Selection of carry idlers spacing of belt conveyor taking into account random stream of transported bulk material

Abstract

The study on the design optimisation of belt conveyors used in the mining industry - the proper selection of carry idlers - aiming to decrease the specific energy consumption of transportation with regard to different operational conditions is presented. High capacity overburden belt conveyors from a surface lignite mine as well as copper ore ones from underground ines are analysed. Calculations are performed in the specialised engineering software with the use of characteristics of idlers’ rotational resistance as a function of radial loading that were obtained in the laboratory and identified distribution of actual capacity of main haulage and division belt conveyors. The purposefulness of the individual treatment to the carry idler spacing, depending on the conveyor’s location within the haulage system and its operational loadings - bigger for the main haulage and smaller for the division conveyors is found. The presented results of calculations are evidences for further economic analysis, which take into account - apart of energy costs - also costs of installation and replacements of idlers.