Two Decades Dynamics of Belt Conveyor Systems（二十年带式输送机系统的动力学）.pdf

Two Decades Dynamics of Belt Conveyor Systems Prof.dr.ir. Gabriel Lodewijks Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands Summary The quest for a useful design tool that incorporated the effect of dynamics of conveyor belts on the design of a conveyor system started halfway the 1950s. It was however not until halfway the 1980s that the first useful design tool became available. In the early days of using dynamics of belt conveyor systems the attention was focused on an analysis of both the starts and the stops of long overland, high tonnage/lift/speed conveyors. With the significant improvement of drive technology over the last twenty years however, it is now possible to start and (operationally) stop a belt conveyor in a very smooth manner. For an analysis of these non-stationary conditions the application of belt conveyor dynamics is not any longer required provided that sufficiently long starting and stopping times are used. The attention therefore shifted to the analysis of emergency stops and the determination of what if scenarios. It is an illusion to assume that a theoretical analysis gives all the answers. A practical verification of the results is of utmost importance to ensure that the assumptions made in the theoretical analysis were right and the advice given to the client correct. This paper gives an overview of the work done on the mathematical description of dynamics of belt conveyor systems till date and briefly discusses the most important variables that effect belt conveyor dynamics. It will further give some practical recommendations and examples of the application of the belt conveyor dynamics in the design process of conveyor systems, the practical verification of the results and the lessons learned. Finally it will highlight the latest developments in the field and provide answers to frequently asked questions. 1 Introduction Du