Heat-resistant belts are crucial components in many industries where materials need to be conveyed at high temperatures. Regular conveyor belts cannot withstand these extreme conditions and would quickly crack, lose elasticity, and become more susceptible to abrasion and tearing.
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Impact of Heat on Conveyor Belts
Heat exposure can significantly deteriorate conveyor belts in several ways:
- Melting: The risk of melting depends on the specific type of conveyor belt and the temperature it's exposed to. For instance, a standard rubber belt might melt around 250°F (121°C), while a high-performance heat-resistant belt could handle temperatures exceeding 450°F (232°C).
- Cracking: Heat can cause cracks to develop on the belt surface, compromising its integrity and leading to potential damage and/or breakage.
- Decreased Abrasion Resistance: The belt's material weakens under high temperatures, making it more prone to wear and tear from the abrasive materials it conveys.
Materials for Heat-Resistant Belts
Since regular rubber struggles at high temperatures, heat-resistant belts are constructed from specialized compounds that can withstand extreme heat. The specific materials used may vary depending on the manufacturer and the intended application.
Applications of Heat-Resistant Belts
Have you ever driven by a steel mill and marveled at the fiery glow emanating from its depths? Or perhaps witnessed a steaming hot asphalt mix being poured onto a road? The efficient and safe operation behind these scenes relies heavily on heat-resistant belts.
Unlike their regular counterparts, heat-resistant belts are specially designed to withstand scorching temperatures, ensuring the smooth flow of hot materials in various industries. Let's explore some of the key applications where these belts are the workhorses.
- Steel Mills: Imagine the immense heat involved in processing steel. Here, heat-resistant belts take center stage, conveying red-hot slabs, billets, and other steel products throughout the manufacturing process. Their strength and heat tolerance ensure these fiery materials move efficiently without damaging the belt.
- Cement Production: The production of cement involves scorching temperatures as well. Heat-resistant belts come into play to transport clinker, a key ingredient in cement, along with other hot materials during the manufacturing process. These belts ensure the smooth operation of the production line while withstanding the extreme heat.
- Asphalt Plants: The secret behind smooth, long-lasting roads is often hot asphalt mix. But how does this incredibly hot material get moved around? Heat-resistant belts provide the answer. They can handle the high temperatures of asphalt mix, ensuring its safe and efficient transport within the plant.
- Glass Manufacturing: The process of creating glass involves extreme temperatures to melt sand and other raw materials. Heat-resistant belts play a crucial role in conveying sand, cullet (crushed glass), and other materials throughout the manufacturing process. Their ability to withstand the heat is vital for smooth glass production.
- Food Processing: Not all heat-resistant belt applications involve heavy industry. Even in food processing, conveying hot food items can be a challenge for regular belts. Heat-resistant belts come to the rescue, ensuring that pizzas, baked goods, and other hot delicacies can travel along production lines without burning or damaging the belt.
These are just a few examples of the diverse applications where heat-resistant belts play a vital role. They are the workhorses behind the scenes, ensuring efficient and safe operation in various industries that rely on handling hot materials. Next time you witness a steaming asphalt pour or a glowing steel mill, remember the unsung hero – the heat-resistant belt – keeping the operation running smoothly.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Heat-Resistant Belt
When selecting a heat-resistant belt, several crucial factors need to be considered:
- Temperature: The maximum temperature the belt can withstand continuously.
- Material to be Conveyed: The type of material being conveyed and its impact on the belt (abrasiveness, chemical compatibility).
- Belt Strength and Thickness: The belt needs to be strong and thick enough to handle the weight and potential impact of the conveyed materials.
- Cleats or Surface Texture: Cleats or a textured surface may be required for inclined conveyors to improve grip and prevent material slippage.
Conveyor belt fires pose a significant risk due to their rapid spread potential. While the belt itself can burn, it's the belt's length and movement that exacerbate the danger, allowing fires to quickly traverse large facility distances. Typically, fires start from friction-induced heat at pulleys or from materials inadvertently loaded onto the belt.
To mitigate these risks, best practices include:
- Regular belt inspections
- Clearing combustible accumulations
- Addressing potential fire sources of fire such as seized rollers, overheated bearings, or belt misalignment
In environments with heightened risks—like underground coal mining—strict regulations often mandate self-extinguishing belting to replace less stringent flame-retardant options.
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It's important to note that all conveyor belts can burn if exposed to sufficient heat and airflow. Governmental regulatory bodies use standardized laboratory tests to categorize the burning characteristics of different conveyor belts. A "self-extinguishing" belt, in general terms, refers to one that does not propagate a fire once the ignition source is removed in a controlled laboratory setting.
Fire-safety standards for conveyor belting are similar among major coal mining countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Poland, Russia, and South Africa. For example, Germany implemented strict requirements over 30 years ago.
Various international regulatory and advisory organizations, such as the British Standards Institution (BSI), Conveyor Manufacturers Equipment Association (CEMA), Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), European Standards (EN), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), provide guidance on conveyor belt safety.
Tests conducted in these countries typically include:
- Drum Friction Test (DIN and others): Measures surface temperature to ensure it remains below 325 degrees Celsius (617° F) after a specified time and tension.
- Surface Resistance Test (ISO 284/EN/DIN ): Ensures the belting is conductive enough to prevent electrostatic charge build-up.
- High-Energy Propane Burner Test (EN): Determines if flames self-extinguish within a specified time after ignition.
- Laboratory Scale Gallery Test (DIN and ): Ensures flames self-extinguish and leave a defined undamaged length after ignition.
In the United States, outside of underground coal mines, the regulatory standard for conveyor belts is primarily determined by the Bunsen Burner Test (CFR Part 30 Section 18.65). This test involves exposing a small piece of belt (approximately 150 by 12 millimeters or 6 by 1⁄2 inches) to a Bunsen burner flame for one minute. After removing the flame, airflow is applied for three minutes, and the duration of any flames or afterglow is recorded. To meet the standard, the average of four samples must not burn for more than one minute or exhibit afterglow for more than three minutes.
Historically, Europe and the US differed in belt safety regulations until stricter measures aligned practices globally. For underground coal mines in the US, the Belt Evaluation Laboratory Test (BELT) ensures belts resist flames for extended periods, reflecting updated safety norms.
Other Safety Considerations for Conveyor Belts
Additional standards may apply globally, varying by region or industry. Some countries impose stricter requirements concerning belt toxicity, hygiene, or surface roughness. Detailed specifications can be found in standards established by organizations such as DIN, EN, ISO, BSI, CEMA, and others. It is crucial for conveyor belting to be compatible with the materials it transports, ensuring safety and compliance with applicable standards.
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