Blog Post

Material flow Process in mining

This is an application of transport management. Production of ore from mine will be justified only when it reaches to process plant with minimum quality deterioration. Different types of transport system are being considered during entire flow process. In fully mechanised mines ores are being directly conveyed from face deploying surface miner in opencast mine and continuous miner in underground mines. This has replaced conventionally shovel-dumper in opencast mine and LHD, SDL etc in underground mines. However, installation of coal handling plant, rapid loading system for loading to wagon, transport through pipe conveyor etc are inevitable in large opencast mines.

Apart from environmental point of view closed type conveyors have some other positive aspect, which presently being accepted by mine owners who are operating in remote areas or highly populated areas.

Closed conveyor systems are able to make vertical and horizontal curves with smaller radii than open belt conveyors. This is a great advantage when there is little space to place a conveyor system.

Closed conveyor systems allow for steeper inclination angles than conventional, troughed (non-profiled) conveyor belts. The main reason for this is that the belt locks up the bulk material causing a higher internal pressure in the bulk material. This increases the internal friction of the material meaning that a steeper inclination angle than normal is required to start material run back. A non-profiled belt has a maximum inclination angle of about 17 degrees. Profiled belts, such as chevron or high chevron belts, could be used if steeper inclination angles are required. In many applications however, profiled conveyor belts cannot be applied. As an example, one reason is that profiled belts are difficult to clean. In practice this implies that a long system is required to achieve a certain elevation. With closed conveyor systems angles of 35 degrees or more are possible, with all the appurtenant benefits.