Institute of Transport and Automation Technology Research Publications
The Way to the DIN 22123 – Indentation Rolling Resistance of Conveyor Belts

The Way to the DIN 22123 – Indentation Rolling Resistance of Conveyor Belts

Categories Konferenz (reviewed)
Year 2012
Authors Hötte, S.; von Daacke, S.; Schulz, L.; Overmeyer, L.; Wennekamp, T;
Published in BulkSolids Europe 2012. Berlin, Germany: Nürnberg Messe, Vogel Business Media
Description

Belt conveyors are the adequate solution for the transport of large mass flows from a technological, an economical and an environmental point of view. From the industry, longer conveying distances and a higher mass flow are demanded. Consequently, a higher power requirement for operating such conveying systems is needed.

The most significant savings potential on the running resistance of a conveying system is mainly given by the indentation rolling resistance of the belt. This results from a lossy deformation of the belt during the movement over the idlers. The construction and the characteristics of the belt substantially influence the quantity of the indentation rolling resistance. Thus, the thickness of the bottom cover as well as the used cover plate material affects the running resistance. A reduction of the indentation rolling resistance leads to significantly lower power requirements without any changed boundary conditions and helps to improve the particular efficiency of belt conveyors further on.

Due to the specific stresses, the material properties determined in laboratory scale test procedures have a limited validity about the suitability of various rubber materials for bottom cover plates. At the Institute of Transport and Automation Technology (ITA), the indentation rolling resistance can be measured on a two drum revolution test rig. Corresponding to realistic conditions, the test parameters load, diameter of the idler, belt speed and ambient temperature can be adjusted. Hence, the test rig allows a comparison of different conveyor belts under realistic conditions. To verify the transferability of the test results to the practice, the running resistance of a conveyor belt was determined in field measurements on a running system, using measuring idler garlands. Subsequently, the indentation rolling resistance related to belt width was determined for the same belts at ITA and calculated from these results for the array of the measuring idler garland. A very good correlation was proven between the results from the test rig and the results from the field measurements. The experience and knowledge from the studies on the belt width related indentation rolling resistance of conveyor belts is currently subject of the creation of various DIN standards. These standards will include the test methods and the use of test results for the calculation of the belt width related indentation rolling resistance of belt conveyors.