Conveyors can move a load both horizontally and vertically. To calculate the conveyor belt's power requirements, you have to consider both how far the load must move linearly and by how much a lifting motor will raise it. No universal formula links these variables to how much power the belt consumes. Manufacturers instead provide in the system documentation graphs or tables of data for you to consult for such calculations.
Convert the horizontal transport distance to meters by multiplying it by 0.304. If, for instance, the belt must move material 260 feet horizontally: 260 x 0.304 = 79 meters.
Convert your hourly freight to metric tonnes by multiplying it by 0.907. If, for instance, the conveyor belt must move 330 tons each hour: 330 x 0.907 = 300 tonnes per hour.
Track the values from Steps 1 and 2 on the graph from the link in Resources. With this example, locate the 79 mark on the x-axis and note its intersection with the 300 tonnes per hour curve. The value on the y-axis, in this case 6, describes the horizontal conveyor motor's power requirements in kilowatts.
Convert the load's lifting height to meters by multiplying it by 0.304. If, for instance, the belt raises material by 40 feet: 40 x 0.304 = 12.16 meters.
Track the value from Step 4 on the second graph in the link in Resources. With this example, find 12 on the x-axis, and note its intersection with the 300 tonnes per hour curve. The y-axis value reveals an additional power requirement of 10 kilowatts.
Add together the power requirements from Steps 3 and 5: 6 + 10 = 16 kilowatts of total power.
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About the Author
Ryan Menezes is a professional writer and blogger. He has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Boston University and has written for the American Civil Liberties Union, the marketing firm InSegment and the project management service Assembla. He is also a member of Mensa and the American Parliamentary Debate Association.
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industrial conveyor image by green308 from Fotolia.com