Essential Factors and Evaluation Criteria
Choosing an appropriate belt cleaner for specific applications involves evaluating several critical factors. Here's the essential information a supplier would need to recommend the right belt-cleaning system:
- Belt width and speed
- Width of the cargo on the belt
- Pulley diameter
- Material characteristics (including lump size, moisture content, temperature, abrasiveness, and corrosiveness)
- Conveyor length
The length of the conveyor is particularly significant because the belt's movement over idlers causes fines to settle and compact on longer conveyors, making them more challenging to clean compared to shorter belts.
Short belts or those allowed to run empty for extended periods can generate heat from the friction between the belt and the cleaner blade. This heat can degrade the belt's top cover or damage the blade holder, especially when cleaners are under high tension, potentially causing the blade to stick when the belt stops.
Other variables impacting system performance include:
- Available space for installation and service
- Potential changes in material characteristics (e.g., shifts from wet and sticky to dry and dusty conditions)
- Extreme temperature variations
- Cuts, gouges, rips, or cracks in the belt surface from age or abuse
- Numerous, non-recessed, or damaged splices
- Belt vibration due to material buildup on head pulleys
- Material characteristics prone to adhering or entangling in the cleaner
- Material accumulation in the dribble chute
Multiple belt cleaner systems take into consideration the dynamics of the surface of the belt and the nature of the material as it passes around the head pulley.
When evaluating supplier proposals, considerations include:
- Level of cleaning performance desired/required
- Level of maintenance required/available
- Level of installation expertise required/available
- Initial price versus cost of ownership
- Manufacturer's record (Including service capabilities and performance guarantees)
Various tools, such as online selector systems, can assist in matching the right belt cleaning system to specific applications by analyzing material characteristics and conveyor specifications.