FEATURE
FEATURE
Pushing the limits of technical feasibility
How can mining companies make their operations more sustainable to reduce their environmental footprints ? One element that can be perfectly adapted to match the conditions is the efficient transport of the mined material . Here overland conveyors that can move large quantities of material over long distances are required . BEUMER Group relies on modern planning and layout tools to support operators at an early stage of the project and design the ideal conveying solution together with the customer .
BEUMER Group installed the first overland conveyor with horizontal curves as early as 1969 . Since then , calculation methods and components such as idlers , belts and drives have undergone constant development , resulting in the implementation of increasingly efficient conveying systems for routes that are often complex . Mine operators can use BEUMER curved troughed belt and pipe belt conveyors to transport raw materials over routes with steep inclines and narrow curve radii . “ We can exactly match our systems to the required conveying task and topography ,” says Dr . Kilian Neubert , Global Head of Mining at BEUMER Group . “ We rely on stateof-the-art planning tools to provide our customers with an efficient , sustainable and cost-effective material flow .”
Sustainability in mining Raw materials are needed to produce almost all industrial and consumer goods ; however , extracting them has farreaching effects on the environment and society . This is why mining companies constantly strive to make their extraction and processing operations even more efficient and sustainable , and such efforts are called for in the planning of a new mine .
Mine operators must ensure that the population generally approves of the planned project . This approval can be obtained through extensive approval procedures , environmental impact studies , geo-monitoring , and the implementation of suitable risk management systems .
“ Mining companies need to build trust with the public ,” Neubert explains . “ For example , they need to involve the public and key stakeholders at an early stage of projects .” This is why operators need to integrate the issue of sustainability into all aspects of planning a mine and improve the environmental compatibility of the overall system by ensuring the efficient transport of ore and waste rock over longer distances . Optimised routing and the selection of suitable methods achieve these objectives
The fundamentals and capabilities of modern conveying systems No two conveying systems are alike , even if the primary task of transporting bulk material from A to B appears comparable . “ We must adapt the components and the system to the material to be conveyed ,” says Neubert . “ The mass flow to be conveyed and height differences that need to be overcome over the length of the conveyor line are important factors that we must address when designing a system .” The energy consumption of long , horizontal belt conveyors is primarily determined by the main resistance in the upper and return strand in stationary operating conditions . This resistance consists of the running resistance of the idlers , the indentation rolling resistance , and the flexing resistance of both the conveyed material and the belt as they run over the idlers . The forces required to overcome these resistances depend on various operational and design parameters ; however , they can be determined using the ‘ single resistance method .’ If components with low running resistances are used , such as belts with reduced indentation rolling resistance or runningoptimised idlers , the calculations of the systems nowadays show considerably lower tractive forces of the belt than those of a few years ago . This leads to lower energy costs , and smaller radii can also be selected for the horizontal curves thanks to the lower tractive forces of the conveyor belt .
The topography of the existing terrain also has a significant influence on the design of the conveying system . An indepth analysis of various dynamic load cases and a thorough investigation of the technically feasible horizontal and vertical curve radii must be conducted to design the system in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way .
This is especially true for longer and more difficult conveyor lines . Potential
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