New Solutions in the Area of Belt Conveyor Elements Increasing Energy Efficiency of Mine Transportation Systems

This paper presents the results of research aimed at proposing new solutions in the area of belt conveyor elements. Many factors, such as energy consumption costs, and operating costs of belt conveyor elements, including belts, idlers and drives have an impact on the operational costs of conveyors. The paper presents special tests of new materials for the bottom cover of an energy-saving belt conveyor, which decrease rolling resistance. It also presents large-scale in-situ tests of a high-output belt conveyor for the purpose of simultaneous measurements of various types of conveyor belts (standard vs several energysaving types) under typical operating conditions of a lignite surface mine. Improvements in materials used for the bottom belt covers, supported by specially developed comprehensive tests of the new types of belts have provided valuable results of various proposed solutions. Since the tests of belts were done at exactly the same time and in the same operating conditions, direct comparison of the results is valid and should lead to a substantial decrease in the conveyors? drives? energy consumption, which will improve the effectiveness of belt transport and minimize its negative influence on the environment.