Carriers

Belt Conveyors Belt conveyors consist of endless belts, suitably supported and driven, which carry and transport solids from place to place. Materials of construction for belts can be canvas, reinforced rubber, and strip steel. Belt conveyors are adapted to wide varieties and quantities of materials, require relatively low power, and can transport solids for long distances. Belt conveyors may be driven from any point, although the head or discharge end is the best from the standpoint of stress conditions on the belt. The driving power may be applied through a Belt Conveyor from simple bare steel pulley, a rubber lagged pulley, or a tandem drive [www.bulksolids.com.au.html] consisting of two pulleys connected to the motors through reducing gears. Belt conveyors are high capacity, relatively low power units for primarily horizontal travel and small inclines. The maximum allowable inclination usually is 515 less than the angle of repose (Recommended Maximum Inclination from Table 5.3).

Excerpt of Table 5.3 (Chemical Process Equipment: Selection and Design)

The majority of conveyor belts are constructed of fabric, rubber, and wire beads similarly to automobile tires, but they are made also of wire screen or even sheet metal for high temperature services. Flat belts are used chiefly for moving large objects and cartons. For bulk materials, belts are troughed at angles of 2045. Loading of a belt may be accomplished by shoveling or directly from overhead storage or by other methods. Mechanical efficiencies of speed reducing couplings between motor and conveyor range from 95 to 50%. Details of idlers, belt trippers, cleaners, tension maintaining devices, Rubber Belts from [www.tradekorea.com] structures, etc. must be consulted in manufacturers catalogs or on manufacturers websites. The selection of belt for strength and resistance to abrasion, temperature, and the weather also is a topic for specialists.

Rules of Thumb for Belt Conveyors Belt conveyors are for high capacity and long distances (a mile or more, but only several hundred feet in a plant), up inclines of 30 maximum. A 24 in. wide belt can carry 3000 cuft/hr at a speed of 100 ft/min, but speeds up to 600 ft/min are suited to some materials. Power consumption is relatively low.

Long Distance Belt Conveyors from (www.directindustry.com)

Power Requirements for Belt Conveyors (from Brown) 1. For empty belt conveyor (minimum value):

)(

2. For material (excluding belt) conveyed horizontally:

3. For elevating material (excluding belt which balances itself):

wherein: hp = horsepower required F = friction factor, 0.05 for plain bearings, 0.03 of antifriction bearings, depending upon installation maintenance. L = length of conveyor between terminal pulleys (ft) Lo = 100 for plain bearings, 150 for antifriction bearings S = speed of belt (fpm) T = material (tons/hr) Z = increase in elevation of material (ft) W = mass (lb) of moving parts including belt and idlers per foot of distance between centers of terminal pulleys (both runs)

Other Formulas (from Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering: Chapter 8: Materials Handling) The horsepower required for movement of materials by belt conveyors can be calculated by conventional engineering methods by considering the lift, the frictional resistance of the belt, and the frictional resistance of the various pulleys and tripping devices. Power for standard installations can be calculated from the following equations: 1. Horsepower to drive empty conveyor ( )

L is the conveyor length in feet. Constants A and B depend upon the belt width and are given in the accompanying table.

The belt speed is also given in table 8.1

2. Horsepower to convey material on level

3. Horsepower to lift material ( )

The total power required is the sum of the powers calculated previously.

Example: A troughed belt with a 20 degree surcharge is to convey 1500 bu of wheat (45 ton) per hr. The width of the belt is 14 in and the conveyor is 400 ft. long with a 15 incline. What is the horsepower requirement?

Solution: From the 1st equation, the power required to drive the empty conveyor is: ( ) ( )

From the 2nd equation, the horsepower required for conveying is:

The lift is 400sin15or 104 ft. The power required to elevate the material is determined thus from the 3rd equation: ( )

Therefore, the total horsepower requirement is:

Solids Classification
Geldarts Classification of Powders
Geldarts classification powders are broken down into: Group A (aeratable) for fine materials of low cohesion, which can exhibit homogeneous fluidization; Group B (bubbling) for coarser material, which immediately bubbles upon fluidization; Group C (cohesive), which typically channels and retains air for long periods; and Group D (spoutable), which is coarse material of high permeability with no air retention capability.

Geldart's Classification of Powders (from Perry's)

Five Classifications used in Specifying Bulk Solids Handling Equipment

Class 1 These materials are the easiest to store, discharge and convey, having a very uniform particle size with consistent, small length/diameter (L/D) ratio. Most often, hard granular shapes are not subject to degradation. They exhibit no discernible adhesive or cohesive properties. Typical examples are plastic pellets, coated pills, silica sand, aggregates, pelletized/cured teed, ion-exchange resin and dry salt. Class 2 These materials are sluggish powders that are comprised of individual particles which cannot be readily discerned. Their slight cohesive properties are due to non-uniform, irregular particle configuration. Typical examples are baking flour, limestone, fluorspar, pulverized mineral ore, soda ash, fine silica sand, ground coke and medium-grade sugar. Class 3 These powders are sluggish but fluidizable. Their slight permeability is defined as the degree to which air or another gas may be passed through the void spaces between the individual particulates of the material mass. Gas entrained during conveying or

processing does not readily percolate out. Gas retention capability can vary between zero to several hours, depending upon other physical properties. The entrained gas gives the powder a liquid or fluidized appearance. Their moderate cohesive properties aid in gas retention, also possibly due to large surface area. Typical examples are hydrated lime, cement, silica gel, starch, fly ash, clay, polymers and carbon black. Class 4 These materials are sluggish, adhesive powders that seldom exhibit particle segregation. The particle shape may be agglomerated or dendritic, having a branched, crystalline shape with the branches extending from the faces of the main body. This particle configuration may cause both internal cohesion and external adhesion. Class 4 materials often have electrostatic charge potential. Typical examples are organic or inorganic pigments; metallic oxides (titanium, iron, zinc, lead, chromium and nickel); centrifuge cake; fluorocarbons; sludge; vegetable products such as soy bean meal; cottonseed meal; high-fat bakery products; calcium carbonate; and dispersion resin. Class 5 These materials are generally the toughest to handle due to their non-uniform particle size and shape, non-uniform L/D ratios, and their interlocking tendencies. These may be fibrous (regular or irregular, thread-like with flexible structure), flakes (plate-like), or flocculent (amorphous solids). Class 5 materials will interlock, mat or form large agglomerates. Typical examples are wood chips, sawdust, plastic regrind, asbestos fibers, fiberglass strand, chopped paper, steel/ brass/aluminum chips and agricultural residues such as bagasse.

References
Article from Websites:
Understanding Particulate Solids. (1997). In http://www.nauticom.net/www/jhorst/paper1.htm. Chemical Processing. Retrieved from