Vidyaprakash,

Power calculations are typically considered the product of equivalent tension multiplied by belt speed.

For belt conveyors, this may be equivalent tension (Te) (sum of friction, material acceleration and lift forces, in N) multiplied by conveyor belt speed (in m/s).

Frication force is nominally the product of an artificial friction factor (unit less, maybe 0.02) and mass of the conveyor system (material, belt and idlers).

Mat acceleration = mass flow rate (kg/s) x change in velocity (m/s) (typically belt velocity) (or F= mdotxDv from first year engineering physics)

Lift force = mass / m of material, multiplied by elevation

Other forces may include scrapers, pulleys etc

The basis of rigid body calculations assumes the running / starting torque of the conveyor belt is constant (note none of the above terms are dependant on the rate of acceleration, hence this assumption sounds reasonable).

The acceleration rate associated with starting may be calculated, through considering

F=ma

F = available starting force (maybe starting factor x installed power)/ belt speed

m= mass of system (pulley, belt, idler, material)

a = As calculated

From the above (after selecting an installed power based on running power, calculated earlier) a rate of acceleration, and hence associated tensions can be calculated.

The Te that the conveyor system sees during starting is proportional to the difference of Te available (installed power x SF / belt speed) and that required to rune the conveyor, and the proportion of equivalent mass of the drive and the conveyor, having said this, as I said earlier, the rigid body calculation assumes the running torque remains constant (the Te is a sum of the force required to run the conveyor, as calculated, and the proportional force required to accelerate it).

Safety factors vary, have seen 10 % to 20 % of calculated, depends on application and client specifications.

Regards,

Lyle

Regards,

Lyle ■