Do you wish expert assistance? You surely do not wish to take any off-hand comment on design as accurate, verifiable, and bankable. Who would lend on such a means of design?

Your 350 t/h, over 17 km, certainly can be designed by many. The trick is to make it cost competitive. You will not receive such a public design from any forum member. There is too much to engineer that conforms to modern design methods.

There are other questions that beg answers to be cost effective such as how many hours of the day you will run the conveyor. If you tell me 24 hours per day, I will question your wisdom.

At 24 hours per day, the conveyor width is trivial and must be to be cost competitve, as will be the belt selection for strength, and cover specifications, motor sizes and placement, and idler configuration and spacing. ■

DEAR DEEPASHRE,

FOR SUCH A LONG BELT CONVEYOR,YOU SHOULD HIRED A GOOD CONSULTANT FOR FEASIBILITY OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR COST ECONOMICS AND PROJECT VIABILITY ETC.

AS YOU KNOW,THERE ARE FEW INSTALLATION IN INDIA OF SUCH MAGNITUDES.

REGARDS ■

Hello Dipashree..

We have done many studies for clients who want to transport bulk materials over large distances.

Invariably we have found that for low capacities over such distances as 17km, the belt conveyor option comes just a bit too expensive.

This is because of high capital cost, as you need a wider belt than you think you will need, in order to cater for the high belt tensions. This makes the pay-back period too long.

For the operating costs, the cost per ton will be high as you don't really have enough tons to divide by!

If you can bring something back again on the return belt then you might be in business. Otherwise, put in a light rail track. You mentioned the ground was flat.

Regards

LSL Tekpro ■