MARKETS

Splice monitoring to prevent belt failure

MANUAL monitoring of conveyor belts may become a thing of the past if a new ‘Belt Vision System’ developed in the US is commercialised.

Staff Reporter
Splice monitoring to prevent belt failure

The ‘Belt Vision System’ allows mechanical splices in belt systems to be monitored by cameras and a computer with the aim of preventing belt failure caused by a deteriorating splice.

The system was developed through an alliance between Consol Energy and the National Robotics Engineering Consortium of the Carnegie Mellon University. Bruce Bancroft, consulting analyst with Consol Energy who has been involved with the development, outlined the system at Longwall USA in Pittsburgh in June.

Bancroft said the nominal life of a mechanical splice was three months and that belt breaks at mechanical splices occur frequently enough to justify continuous monitoring. This was however, time consuming and imperfect.

“At the rate revenue is generated in a longwall mine the prevention of one belt break will pay for this system. Pulling broken belt back together generally takes a minimum of four hours and is a hazardous task. A damaged splice can be replaced in 30-45 minutes,” he said.

He said Version 1 of the system was first introduced in December 2001. Since then five Version 2 systems in service at three Consol Energy mines. Two are on mainline belt, two on lead miner belts, and one on a longwall belt.

The system has been shown to run successfully on all belt sizes up to and including 72 inch belt, assuming the 72 inch belt tracks well. More engineering would be required to image belts wider than 72 inch. The current field of view across the belt is 83 inches.

ILN understands that Consol has selected a commercialisation partner and that the unit could be on the market by the end of the year.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2023 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of current exploration rates, trending exploration technologies, a ranking of top drill intercepts and a catalogue of 2022 Initial Resource Estimates and recent discovery successes.