A mining chute design doesn’t mean you assemble it using scrap steel, and then just hope for the most effective. It must be capable of moving tons of materials safely quickly, efficiently, and with no endless maintenance hassles.
When feeding machines crushing trucks, loading it onto a truck, or dumping ore in storage bins the mining chute needs to work with no bottlenecks or malfunctions.
If the layout is incorrect, you’ll need to spend more time fixing the issue than working with it. If you pay, focus on the essential aspects early and you’ll create something that will last for years. This is what you need to consider.
The Behavior Of The Material Flow
Before sketching the design, you need to know how the material is moving. Are you working with sharp-edged rocks as well as sticky wet ore and dusty dry particles? Everyone behaves in a different way.
Large rocks may slash and block the chute, while moist sticky material can cling to the walls of chutes and slow the process. If you’re working with mixed dimensions, the flow will be more difficult.
The shape of the chute should lead the material in a natural way, think curved pathways as well as smooth transitions. It’s also important to find the correct angle for gravity to function.
Steeper angles can help slippery materials. However, make it too steep and you’ll be prone to impacts that cause problems. Do not rely on your intuition, observe the flow of your material and design the chute to match that.
Resistance To Impact And Wear
Chutes in mining take a beating, no doubt about it. As steel takes on material with a high velocity and wears down the steel quickly. Therefore, the type of liner you choose will be crucial.
Do not just choose the least expensive choice. Think about rubber to cushion the impact or hard-faced steel for preventing cutting. It is possible to mix the two materials – rubber on the bottom and steel along the sides, if it makes sense to flow in a certain pattern.
Include wear plates in the places in the areas where the material initially hits then changes direction. The spots that wear out are more than other spots. Less impact means longer life. Plus, it means less downtime.
Maintenance And Accessibility
However, though the chute may be, you’ll have to enter it at some point. Perhaps a liner requires replacement or perhaps the material is caught up. In any case, be sure the design has easy access places.
Doors that are hinged, bolted panels and even many ways that are small could save you lots of trouble. Beware of designs that need an entire shutdown to remove a tiny obstruction.
If you require your workers to get into the area with lighting and tools each time, there’s a blockage, this isn’t a great plan. Consider access while you’re creating the designs, not when you’ve put the concrete in. Maintenance should be simple and secure.
Control Of Spills And Dust
An unplanned chute could transform your facility into an airborne dust cloud, or even a disaster with spills. Materials that overflow or bounce around at transfer points do more than cause harm to the environment but also create hazards for safety as well as cleanup tasks.
Utilize seals, skirts, as well as a suitable container, to make sure that material remains in its place. If your materials are dry, consider dust-control.
This could be as basic as spray bars, or more sophisticated than sealed negative-pressure chutes. Additionally, you should check the speed of the substance when it is entering and leaving the chute.
Conclusion
In the design process of designing a chute for mining, it’s about taking a step ahead. It is essential to know the material you’re using, safeguard the equipment as well as make it easier for those who must maintain it.
If you spend the time determining the right shape of the material, the flow, and access correctly, you’ll be left with a system that works. It’s not constantly repaired.
It’s not prone to spills or clogs. It keeps your business running, shift after shift. It’s not just the ability to work and a reliable one. Simple, yet clever. This is how you create something lasting.
