Ryan

Yes it is possible assuming that you have enough height above the loading point. The chute should be designed to direct the product (give it some momentum) into the direction of belt travel. The cjhute also needs to be designed to absorb impact from the product instead of the belt absorbing the impact.

There have many discussions on this forum about DEM chute modeling analysis. You can visit Larry Nordell's website and look into it further if you like.

http://www.conveyor-dynamics.com/

Follow the link to "chute flow dynamics".

Good luck

Gary Blenkhorn ■

Dear Ryan,

I thank Mr. Blenkhorn and second his comments. Palabora is an example as Mr. Blenkhorn notes. Palabora transported primary crushed copper ore to -250mm OSS. This circuit operated from 1988 to 2003 (+/-). The incline was 15.5 degrees at the loading point to the discharge. The conveyor was 1.1 km long and rises 300 m.

Three papers have been written about the before (rockbox) and after (curved chute) operating in hard rock. THe conveyors flow rate was 6500 t/h at 4.1 m/s. Its success has been a guide to many hard rock installations. Our website has references and images.

Large, hard rock can be controlled to place it gently on the If receiving belt minimizing damaging punturing, wear and spillage, while enhancing safety. The load station impact rollers life span increased many fold as did the belt. Belt cleaners worked for the length of its 15 year service. The belt surface top carry side cover never suffered gouging damage and did not trap material which the cleaners could not touch. Carry back pollution was reduced many fold.

If there are round shaped rocks and they are loaded at the tail end of a flow stream, it is possible for them to begin rolling counter to the flow stream. One protection scheme is to cover the belt with a cyclone type fence mesh to catch catapulted rock and inhibit spin. ■