How to Calculate Belt Pull and Power in Metric Units

Mike Gawinski explains how to calculate required belt pull and required conveyor drive power on a package handling belt conveyor. To download company's power calculation program go to:
https://rulmecacorp.com/bulk-handling...
0:00 Introduction
0:05 Reason for Video
0:15 Metric Explanation
1:55 Belt Pull Calculation
2:34 Example Calculation
3:53 Belt Power Calculation
4:31 Converting to kW

This video explains how to calculate belt pull and required power to move discreet packages on a slider bed conveyor. An understanding of the basic aspects of conveyor bulk pull is essential to properly designing, operating and maintaining belt conveyors. We will use Imperial units in this video. While the bell pull calculation to move discrete packages on a slider bed conveyor is relatively simple to understand and use, the calculation to move bulk materials is more complex. We will review how to move discrete packages on a slider bed in this short video. We know that the power required to move a load on a belt conveyor equals belt pull times belt speed.

Required Power = Belt Pull x Belt Speed

The belt pull required to move packages on a slider bed conveyor equals the total weight of all packages, plus the weight of the belt times the coefficient of friction between the bottom of the conveyor belt and the top of the slider bed.

For example, if a 3.05 meter long conveyor moves five 22.7 kg boxes simultaneously at a belt speed of 0.25 m/s on a conveyor belt with a mass of 4.5 kg/m, on a slider bed with a frictional coefficient of 0.5, then the belt pull is calculated as follows. First, calculate total weight.

Total Mass = 5 packages x 22.7 kg/package + 3.05 m of belt x 4.5 kg/m

Total Mass = 113.5 kg + 13.6 kg = 127.1 kg

Total Weight = 127.1 kg x 9.81 N/kg = 1,247 N

Then, calculate belt pull. Belt pull equals total weight times frictional coefficient between the bottom of the belt and the top of the slider bed.

Belt Pull = Total Weight x frictional coefficient

Belt Pull = 1,247 N x 0.5

Belt Pull = 623.4 N

Then, convert this to required power.

Required Power = Belt Pull x Belt Speed

Required Power = 623.4 N x 0.25 m/s = 156 N m/s

Convert that to a useful unit of measure. One Watt equals one Newton meter per second. Therefore, our power requirement can be converted as follows.

Required Power = (156 N m/s)/(1 N m/s per Watt)

Required Power = 156 Watts

Required Power = 0.15 kW

Now we can select an appropriate conveyor drive system.