You are on page 1of 9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

Print
G.A.Vaka
KruppRobins
1.Introduction
RobinsEngineers&Constructors,Inc.asheexclusiveUSlicenseeintroducedthepipeconveyortotheNorth
Americanmarketplaceearlyin1984.Thesaleofthefirstpipeconveyorin1985wasadifficulttasksincethe
conventionaltroughedbeltconveyorwastheacceptedandthemostwidelyusedmeansofcontinuoustransportation
ofbulkmaterialshandlingintheworld.initiallyourclientsviewedthepipeconveyorasadeparturefromthenormal
andacceptedformofmaterialhandling.
Sincethen,theparentcompanyofRobinsEngineersmergedwithKruppofGermanytoformKruppRobins,Inc.in
theUSA.Todatethereareover750pipeconveyorsoperatingworldwidewiththemajorityofthelongoverland
systemsdesignedandinstalledbyKruppRobins,Inc.Thepipeconveyorisnowbecomingthenorm,viewedby
thosewhoarefamiliarwithitscapabilitiesasthepreferredmethodoftransportationforallbulksolids.
2.DevelopmentofthePipeConveyor
JapanPipeConveyorCompanywasresponsiblefortheinitialdevelopmentofthepipeconveyorandpatentedthe
originaltechnologythatledtoitsfirstsuccessfulapplicationbackin1979.BridgestoneCorporationhassince
obtainedalltherightstotheJPCsystemandhasgrantedKruppRobins,Inc.theexclusivemarketingrightsinthe
UnitedStates.JointlyBridgestoneandKruppRobins,Inc.havedevelopedandrefinedthelimitedoriginal
technology.Advancedtechnologyallowsbothinplantandlongoverlandpipeconveyorswithmultiplehorizontal
curves,tooperatewiththereliabilityofconventionalconveyors(Fig.1).Designsareprogressivelytowardlonger
singleflightconveyorswitheachnewcontract.Forexample,a4,500ftlongcoalconveyor,agoldoreconveyor
6,575ftlong,anothercoaltransportationconveyor8,900ftlong,andyetanotherdownhillcoalhandlingconveyor
thatis11,500ftinlength.Currentlythelongestsingleflightpipeconveyorinstalledisover16,500ftinlength.The
conveyorcarriespetroleumcokeinonecontinuouslengthfromarefinerytoaportfacilitywhereshiploadingoccurs.

Fig1.TheHomestakemineinSouthDakota,showingthe
pipeconveyorleadingfromthemine(foreground)tothe
mill(background)transversingthroughthetown.

Theuseofthepipeconveyorisonlylimitedbytheimaginationoftheindividuallookingforthepossibleapplication.
Todatewefindthatanymaterialthatcanbeplacedonthepipeconveyorcanbeconveyed.Thetypicalmaterials
handledareores,coal,coke,limestone,crushedstone,shaleandoverburden.Someofthemoredifficultmaterials
thatarebeinghandledonthepipeconveyorarecopperconcentrate,petroleumcoke,clay,fluedust,readymixed
concrete,sludge,humidifiedflyash,coaltailings,aluminaandfilterdust.
http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

1/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

3.DesignDetails
3.1PipeConveyorBelt
ThebeltwasdevelopedforthepipeconveyorbyTheBridgestoneTireCompany.Itissimilartotheconventional
conveyorbeltbutincorporatesseveralimportantfeaturesinitsdesign.Thepipeconveyorbeltismanufacturedby
BridgestoneinJapanand,underlicense,byGoodyearintheUSA.
Withtheneedforbothstiffnessandflexibility,aspecialcarcassconstructionisemployed.Thebelthastohave
sufficientstiffnesstoformandmaintainthepipeshapeasitpassesthroughthecircleformingidlerrolls.Atthe
sametimeitmustremainflexibleforthetransitionfromtheflatshapeatthepulleystothepipeshapeatboththe
loadinganddischargeendsoftheconveyor.Thisisaccomplishedbyplacingalayerofrubberbetweeneachfabric
plyinthebelt.
Thebeltedgestiffnessisreducedtoassurethatasealismaintainedattheoverlapsothatmaterialdoesnot
escape.Further,thetopandbottomrubbergradesandcuringtimesarecontrolledtoenhancethebelt'snatural
tendencytoassumethepipeshape.
Forlongsingleflightapplications,thepipeconveyorbeltisalsoavailableinsteelcordconstruction.Inthiscase,a
layeroftransversefabricisusedbothaboveandbelowthesteelcables.Again,aswiththefabricconstruction,a
layerofrubberseparatesthefabricandthesteelcords.
Forpurposesofemergencyrepair,metalfastenerscantemporarilybeusedoraconventionalbeltcanbesubstituted
untilapermanentrepaircanbemade.Theconventionalbeltdoesnothavethenecessarystiffnessandflexibility.It
wouldrestmainlyonthebottomsupportidlersandconsequentlywouldsufferprematurecrackingandfatigueor
couldcreateotherunforeseenproblems.Thebeltlifeofapipeconveyorbeltandtheconventionalbelt,whenused
onconventionaltroughedconveyorapplications,arevirtuallythesame.
Beltcleaningisaccomplishedwiththesameequipmentthatisusedonconventionalbeltapplications.Singleblade
andmultiplebladebeltscrapersaswellasrotarybrushesandreturnbelt"V"plowsmaybeused.
Hotmaterialscanbehandledonthepipeconveyorthroughtheuseofbeltsthatarespeciallymadeforthepurpose.
Standardgradebeltingisusedfortemperaturesupto140degF.Twohotmaterialgradesofbeltwillallow
temperaturesupto230degFand320degFrespectively.
Specialconsiderationtobothlumpsizeandbeltsurfacetemperaturemustbegivenfortheproperselectionofbelt.
Extremeheatconditionsatthebeltsurfacewillhaveapronouncedeffectonbeltlife.
3.2IdlersandSpacing
Whenthepipeconveyorisstraightandwithoutanyverticalorhorizontalcurves,thebottomthreeidlersofthetop
orloadcarryingsideofthepipeconveyorsupportsthebeltandmaterialload.Thetopthreeidlersmaintainthe
beltinitspipeshape.Shouldtheconveyorhavebothverticalandhorizontalcurvesections,thentheotheridlersthat
surroundthebeltmaybetheloadsupportingidlerswhiletheremainingidlersmaintainthebeltinthepipeshape.
Thesameappliestothebottomorreturnbeltsideofthepipeconveyor.Thereasonthatthebottomorreturnstrand
ofthebeltiskeptinthepipeshaperatherthantheflatshape,asonaconventionalconveyor,istopermitthesame
sizestructuretobeusedandtoguidethebeltthroughtheverticalorhorizontalcurves.
TheidlersthatsurroundthebeltareaptlycalledthePipeShapeKeepingIdlersorPSKIdlers.Thediameterand
spacingofidlersetsisdeterminedbythesizeofthepipeconveyorandthematerialthatitconveys.Duetothe
rigidityofthepipeshapetheidlerspacingcanbeincreasedwithoutexcessivebeltsagaswithconventional
conveyors.Table1showsthetypicalspacingusedforstraightpipeconveyors.Theidlerdiameterrelativetopipe
conveyorsizeisshowninTable2.
http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

2/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

Table1.IdlerSpacing

PipeDiameter

Spacing

mm

in

50ft3

75ft3

100ft3

150

5'6"

5'0"

4'3"

200

6'0"

5'3"

5'0"

250

10

6'3"

5'6"

5'3"

300

12

6'6"

6'0"

5'6"

350

14

7'0"

6'3"

6'0"

400

16

7'3"

6'6"

6'3"

500

20

7'3"

7'3"

6'6"

600

24

8'0"

7'9"

7'3"

700

28

8'3"

8'3"

7'6"

850

34

8'6"

8'3"

8'0"

Table2.IdlerRollDiameter

PipeDiameter

IdlerRollDiameter

(in)

(in)

4or5*

10

4or5*

12

14

16

20

24

28

34

6or7*

*DependingonloadimposedandidlerRPM

Idlerspacingforpipeconveyorswithhorizontalcurvesmayhavetobereducedinareasofthecurves.Inallcases
thefinalselectionofidlerspacingisbasedonacompletereviewofthestaticanddynamictensionconditionsofthe
individualpipeconveyorandthetypeorcombinationofcurvesthatmaybeused.
Intheareaoftransitionatthetallendwherethebeltgoesfromtheflattopipeshape,thebeltissupportedby
idlerswithvariableinclineendrollssimilartotheconventionalconveyorbelt.Inthislocationthebeltisloadedby
meansofaloadingchute.Theidlersbeneaththeloadingskirtboardsarespacedatcentersthatwillabsorbthe
impactoftheloadedmaterial.Atthebeginningofthepipeshapeaspecialidlersetisusedcontaining12idlerrolls
arrangedasoffsethexagons.Theresultingtwelvesidedfigureapproximatesacirclecloserthanthestandardsixside
idlerhexagonandiscapableofwithstandingthehigherloadsoftheclosingbelt.Inadditiontotheseidlers,aspecial
http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

3/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

singlerollguideidlerisusedtopressoneedgeofthebeltbelowtheotheredgeasthebeltcomestogether.This
idlerisinstalledjustaheadofthefirstcircularidlerset.Theidlereliminatesbeltedgeabrasionandallowsthe
properoverlapclosingofthebelt.
Idleralignmentandproperbeltloadingplayakeyroleinthestabilityandtrackingofthepipeconveyor.Ona
conventionalconveyorstructuretheidlersupportsteelandhorizontalandverticalalignmentarecriticalforproper
belttrainingandsuccessfuloperation.Impropertracking,orbeltmisalignment,iscorrectedthroughtheuseof
trainingidlers.Withthepipeconveyorbeltguidedbyidlerssurroundingthebeltonallsides,theconveyorisableto
negotiatecurvesandcenterlinemisalignments.Duringcommissioningofthepipeconveyor,idleralignmenttothe
beltisadjustedtomaintainthebeltoverlapinapositionthatislocatedasnearthetopaspossibleonthecarrying
side.However,whatactuallyassistsmostinbeltstabilityandkeepstheoverlapatorneartheupwardpositionis
theweightofthematerialconveyed.Theheavycenterofgravityinthelower75%crosssectionmaintainsthe
properdynamicattitudeoftheconveyorbelt.Onthereturnoremptyside,thebeltoverlapislocatedatthebottom
ofthepipeshape.Theextraweightoftheoverlapmaintainstheproperdynamicattitudeonthereturnrun.

CurvedsectionofthepipeconveyorasitapproachesthedischargepointatAES(AppliedEnergySystems)Barbers
Point.
Uniformfeedtothepipeconveyorisimportanttoitsstabilityandtracking.Forthisreasonitisrecommendedthat
thematerialisfedthroughtheuseofabeltfeederorvibratingfeederthatwillprovideaconstantanduniformflow.
Ifitisnotpossibletoprovideaconstantanduniformfeedthenamaterialcrosssectionmonitorandavariable
speedpipeconveyordriveisemployedtocreateadesirablecrosssectionthatissuitablefortheapplication.The
crosssectionmonitordetectsthematerialloadattheloadingchuteandprovidesasignaltovarythepipeconveyor
beltspeedtofacilitateauniformcrosssectionatalltimes.
Table3.Transitiondistance,minimumconveyorlength.

FabricBelt

SteelCOrdBelt

PipeDiameter

Transition

MinimumConversion

Transition

MinimumConversion

Length*

Length

Length

Length

Length

(in)

(ft)

(ft)

(ft)

(ft)

12.5

59

25

118

17.0

65

34

130

10

21.0

75

42

150

12

25.0

82

50

164

14

29.0

98

58

196

16

33.5

114

67

228

20

42.0

131

84

262

24

50.0

164

100

328

http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

4/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

28

58.5

196

117

392

34

71.0

229

142

458

*Basedonstraightconveyorswithnocurves.

Thelengthofthetransitionbetweenthetailpulleyandthepipeshape,andfromthepipeshapetothedischarge
pulleyisafunctionofthepipeconveyordiameter.Duetothetransitiondistancesatboththeheadandtailendof
theconveyor,aminimumpipeconveyorlengthisalsorecommended(Table3).
3.3Curves
Asstatedpreviously,asignificantadvantageofthepipeconveyoristheabilitytonegotiatecurvesofatightradius
ascomparedtotheradiusrequirementsoftheconventionalconveyor.Thisfeaturecombinedwithitsnarrowprofile
enablesthepipeconveyortobeinstalledwherephysicalconstraintswouldnormallyexcludeconventionalbelt
conveyorsorrequiretheuseofseveraltransferpoints.
Sincethepipebeltistotallycontainedbythesurroundingidlers,sidedriftdoesnotoccuraswithconventional
conveyors.Asanexample,thehorizontalcurveforaconventionalconveyorisgenerally,ataminimum,2,500ft.
Theconveyorbeltsizeisthenusuallyincreasedbyonesizetoallowforsided@ftbetweenemptyandloaded
conditions.Temperaturechangeandweatherconditionsarealsocriticalfactorsinsizingcurveradiiwiththecon
ventionalbeltconveyor.
Thepipeconveyorcanbecurvedinboththeverticalandhorizontalplaneaswellasincombinationofthetwo,
eliminatingtransfersorpassingaround,overorunderexistingplantequipment(Fig.2).Thecurvedsectionsare
begunonlyafterthebeltpassesthroughthetransitionsectionandisinthepipeshape.Thecurvedsectionsmustbe
completedwhilestillinthepipeshapepriortoexitingthroughthetransitionsectiontothedischargepulley.The
transitionsectionsmustbestraightatbothends.
Theradiusofthecurvesaregenerallyafunctionofthepipeconveyordiameter,thetypeofbeltandcurveused.In
generalthestandardminimumrecommendedradiusforhorizontalorconcavecurvesforafabricbeltis300times
thepipeconveyordiameterandis700timesthediameterforasteelcordbelt.However,shouldan"S"shape,
convexorcombinedhorizontalandconcavecurvebeusedthentheminimumradiusis400timesthediameterfor
fabricbeltand800timesthediameterforsteelcordbelt.Inthecaseofacombinedhorizontalandconvexcurvethe
minimumradiusisthen500timesthediameterforafabricbeltand900timesthediameterforasteelcordbelt.
Theforgoingisonlytobeusedasageneralguide.Inallcasesthefinalselectionofradiiisbasedonourengineer's
completereviewofthestaticanddynamictensionconditionsoftheindividualpipeconveyorandthetypeor
combinationofcurvesthatareused.
Table4.Pipeconveyorcapacity.

Pipe

Cross

diameter

section*

Beltspeed**FPM

NormalCapacity

Max.Lump

mm

in

ft2

Norm

Max

50lb/ft3

100lb/ft3

in

150

0.140

394

541

84

166

1.25

200

0.248

427

541

159

318

2.75

250

10

0.441

459

591

304

608

3.5

300

12

0.527

492

591

389

778

4.00

350

14

0.710

574

591

612

1224

4.75

http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

5/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

400

16

1.163

656

738

1144

2288

5.50

500

20

1.670

738

738

1848

3696

6.50

600

24

3.330

820

902

2861

5722

8.00

700

28

3.014

902

902

4079

8158

10.00

850

34

4.349

984

984

6420

12840

11.50

*At75%loadcross

**Normal/maximumbasedonidlerdiameterandmaximum

section

idlerrpm

3.4PowerRequirements
Whenthegeometryofapipeconveyoristhesameasastraightinclinedconventionalbeltconveyorofintermediate
length,(plus300ft)thepowerconsumptionandbelttensionsaregenerallyequai.Thepipeconveyorrequirements
maybeafewpercenthigherdependingoncapacityandsizeofconveyorscompared.
Ifthepipeconveyorisdesignedwithcurvedsectionsadditionalpowerisconsumedtochangethematerialdirection
withinthebelt.Belttensionandpowercalculationsforeachindividualpipeconveyorapplicationarecarriedoutin
accordancewithanexclusiveandproprietaryformuladevelopedbyBridgestoneCorporation.Althoughthepower
requirementmaybesomewhathigherforthecurvedpipeconveyorwhencomparedtoastraightconventional
conveyorofthesamelength,transferswiththeassociatedadditionalliftrequirementareeliminated.When
comparedtothemultipleflightconventionalbeltconveyorswiththeadditionalhorsepowerrequirementtoliftthe
materialtomakeeachtransfertothenextconveyor,theconsumedpowerrequirementsofthepipeconveyorare
thenquitecomparableormayevenbeless.
Eachspecificapplicationmustbesubjectedtoacarefulengineeringreviewforacomprehensiveevaluationofboth
powerrequirementsandbelttensionswhenacomparisonistobemadeagainsttheconventionalbeltconveyor.
3.5MaterialLumpSize
Materiallumpsizeisimportantintheselectionofpipeconveyorsize.Table4showstheconveyorsize,capacityand
theassociatedlumpsizethatcannormallybehandled.Generallythemaximumlumpsizeis1/3ofthegivenpipe
diameter.Undercertainsizedistributionconditionslargerlumpsizesmaybeallowed.Thefeedofmaterialtoolarge
fortherecommendeddiametercouldbedetrimentaltothelifeofeitherthebeltortheidlersetsthatcontainthe
belt.Ifthepipediameterisdictatedbythelumpsizeofthematerialitmaybenecessarytoselectalargerpipe
diameterthanwhatotherwisemaybeselectedforcapacity.
3.6Construction
Theconstructionusedforthediaphragmpanelsthatsupporttheidlersisverysimple.Thepanelsarepressedfrom
plateandcanbemadeveryeconomically.Forthelargersizepipeconveyor,thepanelsarefabricatedfromangle
shapesandplatesections.Theidlermountingholesarejigdrilledtogivetherequiredaccuracyforidlermounting.
Supporttrusses,galleriesandbentsaresimilartothoseusedwithconventionalconveyors.Duetothediaphragm
effectoftheidlerpanel,thepipeconveyortrussthatincludeswalkwaysismuchstifferandthereforeallowsalighter
designtobeused.
Walkthrutypegalleriesarealsoavailableforthelongerspanrequirement.Walkwayscanbeprovidedononeor
bothsidesforconveyormaintenancedependingonthesizeofthepipeconveyor.Typicallytheshapeofthepipe
conveyorallowsforamorecompacttrussdesignthatconsequentlyreducesfoundationloads.
4.AdvantagesofthePipeConveyor.

http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

6/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

4.1EnvironmentallyAcceptable
Themostimportantadvantageofthepipeconveyoristhatthematerialiscoveyedcontainedwithintherolled
tubular,orpipeshapebelt,thusprovidinganenvironmentallyacceptablealternativetotheconventionaltroughed
beltwherespillingordustingcananddoesoccur.Theloadingofthepipeconveyorisexactlythesameasthe
conventionalconveyorbeltwhichisthroughaloadingchuteandskirtboardsnearthetailpulleyoftheconveyor.
Immediatelyfollowingtheloadingarea,thebeltisrolledintothepipeshapewithasealformedatthetopby
overlappingtheedgesofthebelt.Theconveyedmaterialiswithinthepipeshapebelt,eliminatinganyfurtherneed
foranenclosure.Attheheadend,thebeltpassesoveraconventionalpulleywhereitopenstotheflatshapeand
thematerialisdischarged,thesameaswithaconventionalbeltconveyor.Theareasatthetailandheadendsofthe
conveyor,wherethebelttakesthepipeshapeoropensbacktotheflatshape,arecalledthetransitionsections.
Idlersarrangedtoformahexagonareusedtosupportandguidethepipeshapedconveyorbeltwiththematerial
containedtherein.Dustingandspillageisreducedtoanabsoluteminimumbecausethematerialiscompletely
enclosedbythesurroundingbelt.
4.2AbilitytoNegotiateSharpRadii
Thesecondsignificantadvantageofthepipeconveyorisitsabilitytonegotiateactivelysharpradiicomparedto
otherformsofbelttransportation.Tomany,thisadvantageisconsideredthemostimportantsinceitcaneliminate
transfersthatarenormallynecessarywhenthereisarelativelysharpchangeinbeltdirection.
Theidlersformacircleandconstrainthebeltonallsidesallowingrelativelytightcurvestobenegotiatedinany
direction.Thecurvescanbehorizontal,verticalorcombinationsofbothplanes.Eliminationoftransferstationsalso
deletestheneedforadditionalpulleys,chutes,dustcollectionordustsuppressionequipment,foundationsandpower
distribution.Therefore,productdegradationisalsosignificantlyreduced.Butmostimportanttheassociated
maintenanceofatransferpointiscompletelyremoved.Apipeconveyorcanbeinstalledwithmultiplecurvessothat
onepipeconveyorcanreplacemultipleconventionalbeltconveyorsandtheassociatedtransferpointsandauxiliary
equipmentasoutlinedabove.
4.3AbilitytoNegotiateSteepAnglesofInclination
Thepipeconveyorcannegotiatemuchsteeperanglesofinclinationthanaconventionalbeltconveyor.Duetothe
roundcrosssection,increasedcontactareabetweenthematerialandthebeltoccursthatallowsagaininangleof
inclinationofapproximately50%toasmuchas27degrees.Withthesteeperinclinationtheconveyorcanbemade
shorter,providingfurthereconomicsorperhapsmakingittheonlyviablesolutionduetospaceorproperty
restrictions(Fig.3).
Fig3.AES(AppliedEnergySystems)Barberspointatthelocationwherethepipeconveyorcrossesthemainport
entranceroad.Thedischargeofthepipeconveyorisatthepowerplantinthebackground.

4.4PipeFormforReturnBelt

http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

7/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

Thereturnbeltofthepipeconveyorisalsoformedintothepipeshape.Thebeltisrolledsothattheoverlapis
placedatthebottomofthepipeshape.Thisnotonlyallowstheconveyortonegotiatethesamecurvedrouteasthe
carryingstrandbutitalsoenclosesthedirtysideofthebelt.Thepossibilityofdrippingorscatteringofmaterialthat
mayhavecarriedovertothedirtysideofthebeltisthereforeminimized.
4.5SameVolumeofMaterialTransportedaswithLargerConventionalBeltConveyor
Thepipeconveyorcantransportthesamevolumeofmaterialastheconventionalbeltconveyorthatistypically2.5
to3timesthesizeofagivenpipediameter.Asanexample,a300mm(12inch)diameterpipeconveyorwill
conveythesamecapacityasa30inchwideconventionalbeltconveyorusing20degreetroughingidlersanda20
degreesurchargeangle.Thistranslatestoasupportstructureforpipeconveyorthatisonly25incheswidein
comparisontotheconventionalbeltconveyorthatwillrequire,atminimum,awidthof41inchesforitssupport
structure.Wherespaceforaconveyorislimited,suchasinatunnel,theuseofthepipeconveyorwouldallowa
smallertunnelcrosssectiondesign(Table3).
4.6StandardComponents
Thesamestandardcomponentsthatareusedfortheconventionalconveyorsarealsousedforthepipeconveyor.
Sincethepipeconveyorbeltisflatatallhead,tailandtakeuppulleylocations,andbecausethebeltspeedsare
similar,standardconventionalconveyorpulleys,bearingsanddrivecomponentsareused.Theconveyorbeltitselfis
manufacturedbybothBridgestoneinJapanor,underlicense,byGoodyearintheUSA.Theuseofstandard
componentsavailablefromthelocalmarketplacemakesthepipeconveyoranacceptablealternativeusing
equipmentthatcustomersarefamiliarwithandhavefullconfidencein.
4.7ConveyanceonTopandReturnStrand
Aswithaconventionalconveyor,materialcanbeconveyedonthereturnstrandinadditiontothatbeingcarriedon
thetopstrand.Toaccomplishthis,thereturnbeltisturnedover180degreessothattheoverlapthatsealsthe
materialinthepipeshapeisonthetopwiththedirtysideofthebeltstillremainingontheinside.Although
additionalpulleysareneededandsupplementarydrivesmayberequired,theinstallationofonlyonepipeconveyor
couldprovideeconomicalbenefitsovertheinstallationoftwoseparateconventionalconveyors.
5.Installations
Todatethereareover600locationswhereover750pipeconveyorshavebeeninstalled.Theclient'sreasonsto
chosetheuseofthepipeconveyoroverconventionalconveyorhavevaried,butineachcaseitwasduetooneor
moreoftheinherentadvantagesofthepipeconveyorasoutlinedhere.Inafewinstancesthecostofthepipe
conveyorwasmorethanthecomparableconventionalconveyorbut,intheclientsopinion,themeritsofthefeatures
gainedfaroutweighedtheadditionalcosts.
6.Conclusion
Thepipeconveyorisstillarelativelynewandinnovativeconceptforthetransportationandhandlingofbulk
materialsascomparedtotheconventionalbeltconveyorthathasbeenunchangedsinceitsinceptionattheturnof
thecentury.Itoffersmanyadvantagesoverothermaterialhandlingsystemsbymakinguseofallthestandard
equipmentdevelopedfortheconventionalbeltconveyorandbyincorporatingtheadditionalfeaturesdescribed
herein.NowthataUSlicensehasbeenestablishedandahistoryofinstallationexists,thefeasibilityandeconomics
ofthepipeconveyorapplicationcaneasilybedetermined.

http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

8/9

7/6/2016

Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

http://www.ckit.co.za/secure/conveyor/papers/pipe/pipea.html

9/9

You might also like