CONVEYORS
Conveying the message
John Chadwick examines
conveyor transfer points and
their design, new systems and
advances in conveyor
components, including belts
et us begin with a maintenance matter
covered before in IM but very well worth
repeating as it is so important. Mark Baller,
Managing Director of transfer chute experts
Weba Chute Systems believes that transfer
points should be accorded the same importance
as other minerals processing machinery. In
particular, the effect of the chute’s performance
on the life of conveyor belts – which can account
for up to 60% of the capital cost of a bulk
materials handling plant – deserves attention.
“The cost of replacing a conveyor belt – not to
mention the downtime associated with belt
maintenance and replacement – makes it worth
looking more closely at any measures that will
extend the conveyor’s life,” says Baller.
“Typically, conveyors – like feeders, crushers,
hoppers and screens – are selected to match
certain operational requirements; however,
there is little emphasis on the design of the
chutes transferring materials between
elements.”
This is a mistake, he argues, as chutes are
essential elements in a bulk solids handling
plant, and are also subject to operational
characteristics and physical constraints.
“Among the most common problems on
transfer chutes are spillage, blockages and high
levels of wear on the receiving belt due to major
differences between the material velocity and
the belt velocity,” he says. “There is also
misalignment of the receiving conveyor belt –
which is caused by uneven loading from the
transfer chute.”
L
Key to solving these challenges is good
design, he emphasises. While conventional
chute design often allows the uncontrolled
discharge of bulk materials, Baller considers
that a holistic design is necessary – focusing not
only on the entry and exit points, but also
contr