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HOW TO CALCULATE CONVEYOR BELT PULL AND REQUIRED POWER
This video explains how to calculate belt pull to move discreet packages on a conveyor. It also explains how to convert required belt pull into required conveyor drive power. Use this video in conjunction with our growing library of tutorials on how to design and maintain bulk handling belt conveyors.
This video explains how to calculate belt pull and required power to move discreet packages on a slider bed conveyor. An understanding of the basic aspects of conveyor bulk pull is essential to properly designing, operating and maintaining belt conveyors. We will use Imperial units in this video. While the bell pull calculation to move discrete packages on a slider bed conveyor is relatively simple to understand and use, the calculation to move bulk materials is more complex. We will review how to move discrete packages on a slider bed in this short video. We know that the power required to move a load on a belt conveyor equals belt pull times belt speed.
Required Power = Belt Pull x Belt Speed
The belt pull required to move packages on a slider bed conveyor equals the total weight of all packages, plus the weight of the belt times the coefficient of friction between the bottom of the conveyor belt and the top of the slider bed.
For example, if a 10 foot long conveyor moves five 50 pound boxes simultaneously at a belt speed of 50 feet per minute on a conveyor belt with a weight of 3 lbs/ft, on a slider bed with a frictional coefficient of 0.5, then the belt pull is calculated as follows. First, calculate total weight.
Total Weight = 5 packages x 50 lbs/package + 10 feet of belt x 3 lbs/ft
Total Weight = 250 lbs + 30 lbs = 280 lbs
Then, calculate belt pull. Belt pull equals total weight times frictional coefficient between the bottom of the belt and the top of the slider bed.
Belt Pull = Total Weight x frictional coefficient
Belt Pull = 280 lbs x 0.5
Belt Pull = 140 lbs
Then, convert this to required power.
Required Power = Belt Pull x Belt Speed
Required Power = 140 lbs x 50 fpm = 7,000 ft-lbs/min
Convert that to a useful unit of measure. One horsepower (HP) equals 33,000 ft-lbs/min. Therefore, our power requirement can be converted as follows.
Required Power = (7,000 ft-lbs/min)/(33,000 ft-lbs/min per HP)
Required Power = 0.2 HP
Now we can select an appropriate conveyor drive system.
We hope you found this short video useful. For additional conveyor design, operation and maintenance tips. Go to rulmecacorp.com or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thank you very much.