Conveyors tonnage requirement

In establishing belt-conveyor tonnage requirements it is important to work with peak rather than average loads. Only occasionally, because of intentional or accidental variations in produ ion rates, are these two figures identical. The belt that runs empty half the time must cany t ce the average load when it is working. 

As more areas of the chute come in contact with the ore, higher maintenance requirements are expected. The frequency of maintenance associated with the mechanical equipment is based upon the tonnes of ore passed through any piece of equipment in a given time period. Dual conveyors, for instance, pass half the tonnage required of a single conveyor in the same time period hence the amount of wear on the equipment is significantly reduced. 

Capacity requirement is a prime factor in conveyor selection. Belt conveyors, which can be manufac tured in relatively large sizes to operate at high speeds, deliver large tonnages economically. On the other hand, screw conveyors become extremely cumbersome as they get larger and cannot be operated at high speeds without creating serious abrasion problems. 

It is advisable to perform the sampling as a weight-dependent rather than as a time-dependent operation. In the former case the sampler is controlled direct by a belt weigher. The cumulative sample is homogenized in a special mixer after a certain quantity (tonnage) of material has been collected. With both methods suitable belt conveyors and automatic counting equipment are required. The samplers can be adjusted to take any desired quantity. 

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