| Belt conveyor is the most economic and convenient | | | | and methods do differ mainly in computation of |
| mode of bulk material transportation for short to | | | | frictional resistances which are derived from |
| medium distance conveying specially within the plant. | | | | experimental data and experiences. Major international |
| Practical application of belt conveying is so wide | | | | codes which are widely accepted for belt conveyor |
| spread that its total number in the industry is virtually | | | | power and tension computations are as follows: |
| uncountable. Short and simple belt conveyors do not | | | | ISO |
| warrant much design engineering skill to analyze | | | | CEMA |
| various running conditions. However real-life present | | | | DIN |
| day belt conveyor systems are long, high capacity and | | | | National Standards |
| are with complex geometries having various | | | | It is unfortunate that noticeable differences still exist |
| components mounted on them. Detail analysis of belt | | | | among the above mentioned standards, which disturb |
| tensions and power for such systems at different | | | | the engineers and plant owners who are responsible |
| conditions is a must for selection of proper | | | | to choose one of them. However, it is heartening to |
| components of the belt conveyor and to optimize the | | | | note that with the continuous development and |
| selection. | | | | subsequent revisions the differences are getting |
| It will be wrong to say that analysis of complex belt | | | | narrower day by day. It is not the intent of this article |
| conveyor is impossible by hand calculations, but it is | | | | to do a comparative analysis of different codes and |
| indeed extremely tedious, error prone and may require | | | | standards but to make a mention that a good |
| substantial technical skills since such calculations call for | | | | conveyor engineer is expected to be acquainted with |
| many iterations and recalculations. It can even be | | | | the pros and cons of the major standards. |
| concluded that analysis of a high capacity long | | | | A review of the commercially available major belt |
| complex belt conveyor system by hand calculation is | | | | conveyor software programs reveal that most of |
| impractical and unprofessional. | | | | them give satisfactory output with good accuracy and |
| Thanks to the introduction of computerized software | | | | they resemble closely to each other. However ease |
| programs for belt conveyor system which have | | | | of use differs from one to the other especially in the |
| simplified the conveyor engineers' job to a great extent | | | | modeling aspect and availability of in-built databases. |
| and has given belt conveyor industry a boost with | | | | For mere commercialization, most of them have |
| increased accuracy and confidence. Such software | | | | formatted the input/output presentations of almost the |
| programs allow engineers to model the belt conveyor | | | | same items in different ways to make them more |
| in a great detail using components of the user's choice | | | | attractive. In the process the price of many of them |
| and simultaneous analysis of many scenarios by one | | | | has gone up very high and in some cases with little |
| click. Accurate and instantaneous output saves hours | | | | justification. |
| of engineering time and gives engineer the insight of | | | | It is essential, before buying one of such programs, to |
| the various conditions. Knowledgeable engineers then | | | | evaluate few of them by downloading the demo |
| can experiment by changing the component | | | | version (where available) in the light of one's |
| parameters as felt necessary and come to the | | | | requirement regarding modeling, limitations, input/output |
| optimum or most economical solution in a very short | | | | and accuracy with respect to the price. Careful |
| time with full backup records. | | | | observation is necessary to differentiate between |
| While on the subject, it will be worthwhile to discuss a | | | | commercial gimmicks and actual merits. Price is the |
| little about the available methods/codes for the belt | | | | important aspect to be considered since now-a-days it |
| conveyor tension and power calculations. The basis of | | | | has become a trend to make these software |
| the belt conveyor tension and power analysis is firmly | | | | programs very costly. |
| footed on fundamental physics, but still different codes | | | | |