Conveyor selection follows this calculation sequence: Capacity → Belt Width → Belt Speed → Inclination Angle → Length. Conveying capacity Q (t/h) = 3.6 × Belt Speed × Material Cross-sectional Area × Bulk Density; belt width is determined by capacity + material lump size (standard widths: 500–2800 mm; width ≥ 3–5 times the maximum lump size); length is determined by the process layout distance (a single unit can exceed 10 km; long distances use sectional drives)—determine capacity first, then work backward to find the belt width; do not simply guess based on intuition.
I.
How to Determine Belt Width
Based on capacity: Q (t/h) = 3.6 × v × A × ρ (belt speed v = 0.8–4 m/s; A = material cross-sectional area; ρ = bulk density); based on lump size: belt width ≥ 3–5 times the maximum material particle size (if too narrow, spillage and blockages occur); standard belt widths: 500/650/800/1000/1200/1400/1600/2000/2400/2800 mm; troughing angle: 20°/35°/45° (larger angles yield larger cross-sectional areas); rule of thumb: wider belts allow for higher capacity but are more expensive and consume more power—calculate capacity first, then select from standard belt widths (err on the side of width; a narrow belt causes spillage).
II. Selecting Belt Speed
Range: Typically 0.8–4 m/s; Bulk materials: Medium-to-high speed (for high throughput); Fragile materials: Low speed (to prevent breakage); Powdery materials: ≤2.5 m/s (to minimize dust); Granular materials: 2.5–3.5 m/s; Long-distance conveyors: High speed for long spans, lower speed for steep inclines—Belt Speed × Cross-sectional Area = Throughput (High speed saves on belt width but increases drive requirements).
III.
Impact of Inclination Angle
Fill factor: 0.6–0.8 for horizontal, 0.4–0.6 for inclined (steeper angles mean less material loading); Maximum inclination: Approx. 15–20° for standard belts (steeper angles cause material rollback); Steep inclination: Requires patterned belts or sidewall belts (steep-angle conveyors); Length: Steep angle → shorter horizontal projection → shorter belt but higher drive power—Steep angles save space, while shallower angles save power (balance based on site layout and material characteristics).
IV.
Determining Length
Based on process layout: Horizontal distance from loading point to discharge point + lifting height (Incline length = square root of [horizontal² + vertical²]); Segmentation: Consider segmented drives for single units exceeding 300–500 m (due to belt tension limits); Long-distance: Single units can exceed 10 km (steel-cord belts + multi-point drives); Intermediate discharge: Add plow-type dischargers or discharge trippers (requires increased length for multi-point discharge); Tension: Greater length results in higher belt tension (select high-strength belts)—Length is determined by the process, and the drive system is matched to the length (select steel-cord belts for long-distance applications).
V. Selection Steps
The process involves five steps: first, calculate throughput (t/h = process capacity); second, assess material properties (bulk density, lump size, abrasiveness, friability); third, determine belt width and speed (based on formulas and standard widths); fourth, determine inclination angle and length (based on process layout); and fifth, calculate drive power (friction + lifting + acceleration). In summary, conveyor selection follows this sequence: throughput → belt width → belt speed → inclination angle → length. Belt width is determined as 3–5 times the lump size; length is based on process layout;
and the inclination angle affects material filling (calculations must be based on formulas, not guesswork).
