Understanding a basic conveyor belt calculation will ensure your conveyor design is accurate and is not putting too many demands on your system.
Conveyor CalculationsLegend
B: Sine of angle of incline
C: Center to center distance (inches)
D: Diameter of drive pulley (inches)
d: Diameter of tail pulley (inches)
E: Effective tension (lbs.)
E1: Slack side tension (lbs.) | E2: Tight side tension (lbs.)
F: Coefficient of friction (See Table #1)
G1: Load per square ft. (lbs.)
G2: Load per hour (lbs.)
HP: Horsepower
K: Drive Factor-see table #2 | L: Belt length (inches)
M: Overall Belt Weight
P: Product weight (lbs.)
RPM: Revolutions per minute
S: Conveyor Speed-Feet per minute
T: Operating Tension PIW (lbs.)
W: Belt weight (inches) |
Common Calculations for Proper Design
Belt Length
When the head and tail pulley are the same size:L=(D+d)/2 x 3.1416+2C
When one pulley is larger than the other pulley:L=(D+d)/2 x 3.1416+2C+(D-d)2/4c
Belt Speed
Expressed in feet per minute (FPM)
S=D x RPM x .2618 x 1.021
Belt Load
At one time when the load is known per square foot:P= G1 x C(in feet)x W (in feet)
At one time when load is known by pounds per hour:P=G2/(S x 60) x C(in feet)
Horsepower
Level Conveyors:HP=(F x S x (P+M))/33,000
Inclined Conveyors:HP=((P x B)+(P+M)x F x S)/33,000
Effective Tension
Pull needed to move belt and load horizontally:E= F x (P+M)
Tight Side Tension
Total tension to move belt and load horizontally:E2= E+E1
Slack Side Tension
Additional tension required to prevent slippage on drive pulley:E1=Ex K
Operating Tension
Determines the working strength of the belt to handle the job on per inch of width basis:T= E2/W
The Coefficient of Friction
| Belt | Steel of Aluminum | Metal Rollers |
| Friction surface on pulley side | .30 to .35 | .10 to .15 |
| Bare duck on pulley side | .20 to .25 | .10 to .15 |
| Cover on pulley side | .50 to .55 | .10 to .15 |
The Drive Factor "K"
| Belt wrap on drive pulley | Screw Take-Up | Gravity Take-Up |
| 180° | Bare: 1.6 Lagged: 1.0 | Bare: .84 Lagged: .50 |
| 220° | Bare: 1.2 Lagged: .6 | Bare: .62 Lagged: .35 |
| 240° | Bare: 1.0 Lagged: .5 | Bare: .54 Lagged: .30 |
All Blog Posts
FAQs
Belt pull equals total weight times frictional coefficient between the bottom of the belt and the top of the slider bed. Then, convert this to required power. Convert that to a useful unit of measure. One horsepower (HP) equals 33,000 ft-lbs/min.
How do you calculate conveyor belt? ›
Steps to Calculate The Speed Of A Conveyor Belt:
- Determine conveyor specifications:
- Calculate pulley circumference: C1 = π x D1. ...
- Determine conveyor belt speed using: S = (N x C1 x G) / C2. ...
- Convert units if needed: ...
- Belt Length Calculation: ...
- Belt Speed Calculation: ...
- Tension Calculation: ...
- Horsepower Calculation:
Belt pull equals total weight times frictional coefficient between the bottom of the belt and the top of the slider bed. Then, convert this to required power. Convert that to a useful unit of measure. One horsepower (HP) equals 33,000 ft-lbs/min.
Do you have any knowledge of conveyor belts? ›
A conveyor belt is a looped belt that is driven by and wrapped around one or more pulleys. It is powered by an electric motor and supported by a metal plate bed or rollers upon which the conveyor belt rests. The pulley that powers a conveyor belt is referred to as the drive pulley and has an unpowered idler pulley.
How do you calculate belts? ›
An easy way to determine belt size is to simply “add 2″ to your off-the-rack pant size. For example, if you wear a 36”-waist trouser, then a 38 belt size will be a safe bet.
How do you calculate belt rate? ›
We could calculate the belt pass frequency by knowing the driven shaft speed in rpm, the pitch diameter of the driven sheave and the belt length: BPF = pi*dia*speed/BL. But, we can also measure it and be much more accurate by using a tach or a strobe.
What is the formula for carrying capacity of a belt conveyor? ›
The Following conveyor belt capacity charts show tons per hour (TPH) based on material weighing 100 lbs. per cubic foot, 20° material surcharge angle with three equal length rolls on troughing idlers. CAPACITY (TPH) = . 03 x Belt Speed (FPM) x material weight (lb.
What is 315 3 in conveyor belt? ›
For example a rating of 315/3 would denote a full thickness breaking strength of 315 kN/m width, comprising 3 plies of fabric reinforcement. 2. Carcass thicknesses and weights are subject to manufacturing tolerances. Belts with values other than in tables can be manufactured for special requirements.
How do I choose a belt for a belt conveyor? ›
Conveyor Belt Selection Guide Factors:
- Material Compatibility: The conveyed material's characteristics greatly influence conveyor belt selection. ...
- Load Capacity: Determining the maximum load the conveyor will handle is vital. ...
- Operating Environment: ...
- Conveyor Speed: ...
- Belt Width and Length:
“There are three different types of conveyor belts: the basic belt, snake sandwich belt and long belt. A basic belt conveyor consists of two or more pulleys that hold one continuous length of material. These types of belts can be motorized or require manual effort.
The conveyor belt theory is a very convenient way to visualize the three-dimensional airflows involved in weather systems and therefore a useful method to explain the physical background of Conceptual Models. This theory is especially suited for CMs like fronts and cyclogenesis.
How is conveyor belt measured? ›
There is a simple way to measure your belt. First, lay the belt completely flat and then take a tape measure and measure from end to end. If you have a laced belt, the process is the same except you measure from the end of the lacing on one side to the end of the belt material on the opposite end.
What is the formula for chain conveyor? ›
Fk = (Qt + Pch) x L2 x sin α x f2
v = Chain conveyor speed – (m/s) - (fpm); D = Driving sprocket diameter – (mm) - (in); α = Conveyor slope angle; δ = Bulk density of conveyed material – (kg/m³) - (lb/ft³).
How do you calculate conveyor flow rate? ›
How to Calculate Pneumatic Conveying Flow Rate
- Volumetric flow rate = A x V.
- Q1 = air volumetric flow rate in (known) conditions (m3/h)
- Q2 = air volumetric flow rate to be determined in conditions 2 (m3/h)
- P1 = pressure in conditions 1 (Pa)
- P2 = pressure in conditions 2 (Pa)
- T1 = temperature in conditions 1 (K)
The basis for this is the mounted condition of the belt on the pulleys. In combination with equation (2) the wrap angle φ can finally be calculated as follows by the pulley diameters dl and ds and the center distance e: φ=π–2⋅arcsin(dl−ds2e) radian measure!
