CONVEYORS:

The coal handling facility is the lifeline of a coal-fueled power plant. Modern plants have
high coal demands because of the ever-increasing sizes of turbine generator units and the economic
advantages of a single coal (fuel) handling facility serving a multi-unit power plant. Thus, coal
handling facilities have had to become more flexible, more reliable, and capable of handling larger
quantities of coal in less time than ever before. The limestone handling facilities for the scrubber
additive for these power plants have also grown in importance to support the larger plants and the
ever increasing environmental concerns.

The mode of transporting coal and limestone from the mines or quarries to the power plant
is determined by the location of the plant relative to the location of the mines or quarries and also
by the available practical methods of transportation such as railroads, waterways, highways, and
conveyors. The year-round availability of each must be evaluated to determine the most reliable
and economical transportation. (Black & Veatch, 1996).

TYPES OF CONVEYORS:
1. Belt Conveyor
The belt conveyors are suitable for transporting large quantities of coal over large distances. It
consists of endless belt made up of rubber, canvas or balata running over a pair of end drums
or pulleys and supported by series of rollers provided at regular intervals. Belt conveyors can
be used successfully up to 20 degree inclination to the horizontal. The load carrying capacity
of the belt may vary from 50 up to 100 tons/hour and it can easily transported through 400
meters.

Source: Power Plant Engineering, Dhamsania

Figure. Cross Section of Belt Drive
 2. Screw Conveyor
Consists of a helicoids screw fitted to a shaft. The driving mechanism is connected to one end
of the shaft and the other end of the shaft is supported in an enclosed ball bearing. The screw
while rotating in a trough transfers the coal from one end to the other end.

Source: Power Plant Engineering, Dhamsania

Figure. Screw Type Conveyor

3. Flight Conveyor
This type of conveyor is generally used for transfer of coal when filling of numbers of storage
bins suited under the conveyor is required. it consists of one or two strands of chain to which
steel scrappers are attached the scraper scraps the coal through a trough and the coal is
discharge in the bottom of the trough.

Source: Power Plant Engineering, Dhamsania

Figure. Flight Conveyor
4. Chain Conveyor

A chain conveyor is a type of conveyor system for moving material through production
lines. Chain conveyors utilize a powered continuous chain arrangement, carrying a series of
single pendants. The chain arrangement is driven by a motor, and the material suspended on the
pendants is conveyed. Chain conveyors are used for moving products down an assembly line
and around a manufacturing or warehousing facility.

Source: Hangzhou Aozhou Chain Transmission Co.,Ltd.

Figure. Chain Conveyor

Selected Conveyor

There are two types of conveyor will be used for the transportation of the coal from the
ship up to the combustion equipment. The two conveyors are enclosed roller belt and inclined
conveyor belt. The plant use a belt type conveyor because it can protect the coal from any
substances that can affect the combustion of the coal to be used. Chain conveyor is also chosen
because it can deliver the coal in different units at elevated height.
The belt conveyor will be used to deliver the coal from the coal unloader to stacker reclaimer and
from stacker reclaimer to coal yard. Since the capacity of the unloader and stacker reclaimer is
2500 tph, thus the capacity needed in the belt conveyor must cope the capacity of the unloader and
stacker reclaimer. The specification of the belt conveyor to be used is show from the table below.

Table. Enclosed Roller Belt Conveyor

Selected Conveyor Enclosed Roller Belt Conveyor
Capacity 2500 tph
Belt Width 1350 mm
Belt Speed 3.6 m/s
Source: Brock Grain System

The inclined belt conveyor will be used to transfer the coal from the coal yard to the crusher
and from crusher up to coal silo. Transferring of coal requires an inclination of more than 30
degrees. The crusher to be used has a capacity of 130 tph, thus the chain conveyor to be used
must have a capacity of not more than 130 tph to support the maximum capacity of the
crusher and to have a continuous operation.
Table. Inclined Belt Conveyor Specifications
Selected Conveyor DJ500 Inclined Belt Conveyor
Capacity 130 tph
Belt Width 500 mm
Belt Speed 2 m/s
Inclination Angle 30 degrees
Source: Henan Zhengzhou Mining Machinery Co. Ltd