Reducing Energy Usage Through Conveyor Belt Optimization

Engineers at this coal mining operation wanted to learn more about the way its underground conveyor belt used energy. The belt brings coal from the mine to the surface prior to cleaning and transport and is considered the bloodline of the operation. Process experts wanted to change the cleaning schedule from fixed intervals to performance-based in addition to optimizing energy use. To achieve this, they needed to determine the conveyor belt throughput and the relationship between energy usage and the throughput. This would provide the optimal operating point. Once that point was determined, engineers would set up new monitors that would look for deviations from ideal operating parameters. They could use these monitors to schedule maintenance to improve operational and energy efficiency.