Technical and economic feasibility assessment for the replacement of a conventional drum with an optimized one for a continuous conveyor.

Abstract

In industry, a piece of equipment called a continuous conveyor is widely used to facilitate the transportation process within a company. For each model of this device, there are several elements that can compose it, varying according to its specifications and operating requirements. Continuous conveyors are transport systems used mainly in underground operations, such as mining and tunnel construction. They are designed to move materials efficiently and safely both in open-pit and underground environments, where space can be limited and conditions are challenging. They are fundamental for transporting ores, construction materials, and other products in mines and tunnels, contributing to the efficiency and productivity of underground operations. The component studied in this work is called a drum, an item of extreme importance for the functioning of the continuous conveyor. The objective of this study is to validate the helical or internal containment drum model developed at the company Carbonífera Metropolitana, from its design to the study of its technical and economic feasibility. For this validation, it was necessary to conduct a study starting from the year of its test application, comparing it with the conventional drum that has been used to date. This comparison sought to detect failures, operating periods, higher and lower maintenance needs, costs, and manufacturing, among other aspects relevant to a cost-benefit analysis for the company. The results of the analyses were satisfactory, thus making the drums suitable for application in the continuous conveyors of the region's coal mining companies. Furthermore, this investment tends to have a short-term return, which in this study took about six months due to its low maintenance.