Speed control of high power multiple drive belt conveyors

Abstract

Belt conveyors play a very important role in the continuous transport o f bulk and piece material, especially in the mining industry. However, the use o f belt conveyors results in high electricity consumption. A reduction in the power consumption can be achieved by adjusting the speed o f the belt conveyor to match the material flow. However, inappropriate and frequent speed changes can cause serious damage to the conveyor elements. This paper presents a procedure for adjusting the belt conveyor speed to match the profile o f the material on the belt, as well as a detailed procedure for determining the time needed to accelerate/decelerate the belt conveyor. The research was performed on an actual 640 m long belt conveyor used for transport o f overburden at the surface mine Drmno (Serbia). The simulation results show that the speed regulation is completely justified because the conveyor operated at speeds lower than nominal throughout the testing.