Transfer Chute Design

Chutes used in bulk handling operations are called upon to perform a variety of operations. For instance, accelerating chutes are employed to feed bulk materials from slow moving belt or apron feeders onto conveyor belts. In other cases, transfer chutes are employed to direct the flow of bulk materials from one conveyor belt to another, often via a three dimensional path. The importance of correct chute design to ensure efficient transfer of bulk solids without spillage and blockages and with minimum chute and belt wear cannot be too strongly emphasised. The importance is accentuated with the trend towards higher conveying speeds.

Design Audits & Reviews:

• Evaluation of Transfer Chute Designs including discharge trajectories, hood and spoon type accelerated flow systems, bifurcated systems (including flop gate), slewing/luffing stacker reclaimers, rock box, dead box type (internal shear type) systems, spreader/diverter type systems

• Evaluation of existing wall lining materials

• Mathematical analysis based on material flow property testing results

• Expected material trajectory  

• Continuum Method applying varying equivalent friction - chute flow analysis including velocity profile, material stream cross sectional area profile (burden depth) from feed conveyor to (each) outgoing conveyor

• Discrete Element Method (DEM) 3D flow simulation - based on DEM input parameters calibrated from material flow property testing results

• Indication/Specification of areas with increased wear

Conceptual Design:

• Selection of most favourable wall lining material based on flow property testing results - lowest friction, highest abrasive wear resistance

• Minimising impact angles between flowing/discharging material stream and transfer chute geometry

• Centralised flow for minimising chance of belt mis-tracking problems occurring

• Favourable chute cut-off angles (slope) to guarantee flow at specified rate under all conditions, minimising flow retardation and preventing blockage

• Matching as close as possible inline component of bulk solid material stream velocity at exit of the chute to velocity of receiving conveyor belt

• Minimising normal component of bulk solid material stream velocity at loading point - reducing impact wear on the belt

• Greenfield 3D conceptual Design (geometry and position of transfer chute for most favourable flow)

• Brownfield 3D Conceptual Re-Design (for most favourable conceptual design and minimised flow problems with a set of imposed structural/geometrical constraints already in place).

 

- Back to the Services Overview -