A. el Hadrati
Measuring and modelling the twisting of a pipe conveyor belt
Computer program,
Report 2005.TL.6933, Transport Engineering and Logistics.
A pipe conveyor is a belt conveyor that encloses the transferred material
by surrounding the transfer belt in a pipe shape. The pipe conveyor
enables the transport of materials without spillage, even in the return
process. It also enables an inclined system, which helps to save equipment
space.
A common problem in the operation of the pipe conveyor is the twisting of
the pipe belt between the idler sets. To sense and measure the
misalignment of the pipe belt, a method has been proposed. This method is
based on sensing the position of the belt with permanent magnets, which
will be integrated in the conveyor belt. Several Hall sensors fixed to the
support frame will sense the positions of the passing magnets.
Using a simple experimental setup and the measurement and programming software
Labview, a program is developed to convert the sensor signals in concrete
magnet position information. With the used sensor and the developed
program, we were able to measure the magnet position with an accuracy of
±2 mm within the sensing range of the sensor. This accuracy can only be
reached if the magnet is situated between 8 and 17 mm from the sensor.
A simplified mathematical model is also developed of a part of the pipe
belt with a steering system to correct the misalignment of the belt. This
mathematical model is used to design a feedback control system by the pole
placement technique. The performance of the designed system is checked for
a 50% filled and empty conveyor. The system shows good performance by a
50% loaded conveyor and is also robust to be used for an empty pipe belt.
Reports on Transport Engineering and Logistics (in Dutch)
Modified: 2005.08.11;
logistics@3mE.tudelft.nl
, TU Delft
/ 3mE
/ TT
/ LT.