Solving carryback issues using heavy-duty belt cleaners

A global leader in conveyor technology has resolved excessive carryback problems on the conveyor systems of the largest gold mine in the Dominican Republic, by installing several heavy duty belt cleaning systems. The Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corp. (PVDC) observed large amounts of carryback at discharge points. Martin Engineering replaced the existing equipment with primary and secondary belt cleaners at sixteen discharge points, which increased production, reduced downtime and lowered the cost of operation.

“We lost nearly US$250 000 in revenue due to clogged pulleys and headers from abrasive dust and belt fouling in the first year,” explained Ed Power, General Process Maintenance Superintendent at PVDC. “We decided to invite a team of experts from Martin Engineering to assess the problem.”

Production is 365 days a year, however between April and October the area can receive as much as 6 ft (183 CM) of precipitation. Moisture can cause cohesion in fine clay particulates, which reacts to load pressure, causing it to stick to the contact surface. According to Mike Lenart, Mechanical General Supervisor for PVDC, “The substance had the consistency of thick toothpaste, which was also able to adhere small chunks of aggregate to the belt, causing a destructive carryback that wreaked havoc on our pulleys and headers. It was a mess.”

In two weeks, Martin Engineering replaced the existing belt scrapers with Martin QC1™ Cleaner XHD primary cleaners and DT2H™ secondary cleaners, which can handle speeds of up to 1200 ft/min on belts as wide as 96 in. and pulley diameters of more than 30 in. (762 mm). Installers fitted them with low-adhesion urethane blades specifically designed for sticky and tacky material.

“The curved scraper is designed in sections, adjusted individually to conform to the belt, assuring continuous contact across the belt profile,” said Alfonso Granata, General Manager of PeGran, the local dealer and service agent for Martin Engineering products. “Martin Engineering manufactures a wide range of different cleaning blades, which specifically address the chemical make-up of almost all types of conveyed bulk materials.”

Sixteen Martin DT2H secondary belt cleaners accompanied the primary units to mitigate belt fouling. The units were equipped with tungsten tipped urethane blades, which are suited for heavy-duty applications. To avoid product loss due to fugitive material, the Martin Engineering team also installed 300 ft of ApronSeal™ Skirting constructed from 70 durometer EPDM rubber composite for its low abrasion index characteristics.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/18042016/solving-carryback-issues-using-heavy-duty-belt-cleaners-593/