Conveyor Selection

Quick pick (TL;DR)

Belt conveyor for bulk material over distance and gentle inclines; screw for short, enclosed, dust-free transfer; bucket elevator for vertical lift; drag/chain for hot, dusty or abrasive duty; pneumatic for fine powders in pipe.
Belt drive power ≈ (lift power + friction power) ÷ drive efficiency, with lift = ṁ·g·H.
Size belt width for capacity & lump size, then verify with CEMA.

Step 1 — Conveyor type

Type	Best for	Note
Belt	Bulk / distance	Incline-limited
Screw	Short / enclosed	Enclosed
Bucket	Vertical	Vertical
Drag / chain	Harsh duty	Robust

Step 2 — Worked belt power

Belt 500 t/h, L 60, lift 8 m

Given capacity = 500 t/h → ṁ = 138.9 kg/s length L = 60 m , lift H = 8 m , η = 0.9 Step 1 — Lift power P_lift = ṁ · g · H P_lift = 138.9 × 9.81 × 8 / 1000 P_lift = 10.9 kW Step 2 — Friction P_fric ≈ f · ṁ · g · L (f ≈ 0.03) P_fric = 0.03 × 138.9 × 9.81 × 60 / 1000 = 2.5 kW Step 3 — Drive power P = (10.9 + 2.5) / 0.9 = 14.8 kW → select 18.5 kW motor

Power = lift + friction; lift dominates steep, friction dominates long. CEMA gives the final drive.

Step 3 — Belt & mechanical

Belt width from capacity & lump size.
Take-up & head drive; check tension/sag.
Scrapers, dust control, safety switches.

Belt conveyor power calculator

Drive power = lift + friction

Lift = ṁ·g·H; friction ≈ f·ṁ·g·L; drive = total ÷ η.

Capacity (t/h)

Length L (m)

Lift H (m)

Friction f

Efficiency

Screening — a CEMA/ISO 5048 calc adds idler/belt/skirt resistances & belt tension.

Common mistakes

Incline beyond angle of repose.
Ignoring friction resistances.
No safety switches.

Requisition & datasheet

Type, material, capacity, length, lift.
Power, motor, belt width, safety.

Frequently asked questions

What should I know about Conveyor Selection?

Belt conveyor for bulk material over distance and gentle inclines; screw for short, enclosed, dust-free transfer; bucket elevator for vertical lift; drag/chain for hot, dusty or abrasive duty; pneumatic for fine powders in pipe. Belt drive power ≈ (lift power + friction power) ÷ drive efficiency, with lift = ṁ·g·H. Size belt width for capacity & lump size, then verify with CEMA.

Which standards or codes apply?

CEMA (belt conveyors), ISO 5048 / DIN 22101 (belt power & tension), CEMA screw & bucket standards, machine-guarding regulations.

Standards — CEMA; ISO 5048 / DIN 22101; guarding regs.