Tarmac choose energy-efficient drive belts
ENGINEERS at Tarmac’s Dene Quarry have specified Optibelt’s RedPower maintenance-free V-belts across all their V-belt drives after they had shown significant improvements over conventional belts on a crusher application.
Optibelt were initially approached by site engineer Colin Higton to offer advice on one of the Mansfield crushers operating at the quarry. They found that four SPC 5000 belts on the machine required re-tensioning every two weeks due to stretching and, as a result, they needed to be replaced frequently.
As an alternative, Optibelt recommended RedPower maintenance-free belts, which are designed to require no re-tensioning throughout their service life and are said to transmit up to 40% more power than a conventional belt.
After operating the new belts for more than 18 months (60h per week), they are said to be still running without any problem and have required no adjustment or attention during that time.
With the success of the trial, maintenance section leader Derek Wilson decided to specify RedPower belts on a range of plant across the site, including exhaust fans, conveyors, a rotary drum dryer and Bradley mills.
In addition to belt cost and productivity improvements, an increase in the efficiency of the drive was predicted. Owing to their special manufacturing processes and precise tolerances, RedPower V-belts can operate more efficiently than conventional V-belts, particularly when used in sets.
According to Optibelt, typical drive efficiencies of around 97% can be achieved and, because RedPower maintenance-free belts keep their tension throughout their working life, this level of efficiency is maintained, while alternative belts tend to lose tension and start to slip excessively.
Power measurements taken before and after fitting a set of RedPower belts to another Mansfield crusher on site showed a significant drop in the power consumption after the Optibelt belts were fitted (from an average of around 130kW down to an average of 123kW). This represented a saving of approximately 6.75kW, equivalent to 5.2%. Further power savings were also recorded on conveyor and mill applications.
RedPower V-belts are a drop-in replacement for conventional V-belts and can be fitted without making any modification to the drive or pulleys. Currently stocked in the UK by Brammer and Optibelt UK, they are available in all common sizes, including SPZ, SPA, SPB and SPC. They can be supplied as sets of single belts or banded belts.
Optibelt UK Ltd, 5 Bishops Court, Winwick Quay, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 8QY; tel: (01925) 415777; fax: (01925) 573751.
Optibelt were initially approached by site engineer Colin Higton to offer advice on one of the Mansfield crushers operating at the quarry. They found that four SPC 5000 belts on the machine required re-tensioning every two weeks due to stretching and, as a result, they needed to be replaced frequently.
As an alternative, Optibelt recommended RedPower maintenance-free belts, which are designed to require no re-tensioning throughout their service life and are said to transmit up to 40% more power than a conventional belt.
After operating the new belts for more than 18 months (60h per week), they are said to be still running without any problem and have required no adjustment or attention during that time.
With the success of the trial, maintenance section leader Derek Wilson decided to specify RedPower belts on a range of plant across the site, including exhaust fans, conveyors, a rotary drum dryer and Bradley mills.
In addition to belt cost and productivity improvements, an increase in the efficiency of the drive was predicted. Owing to their special manufacturing processes and precise tolerances, RedPower V-belts can operate more efficiently than conventional V-belts, particularly when used in sets.
According to Optibelt, typical drive efficiencies of around 97% can be achieved and, because RedPower maintenance-free belts keep their tension throughout their working life, this level of efficiency is maintained, while alternative belts tend to lose tension and start to slip excessively.
Power measurements taken before and after fitting a set of RedPower belts to another Mansfield crusher on site showed a significant drop in the power consumption after the Optibelt belts were fitted (from an average of around 130kW down to an average of 123kW). This represented a saving of approximately 6.75kW, equivalent to 5.2%. Further power savings were also recorded on conveyor and mill applications.
RedPower V-belts are a drop-in replacement for conventional V-belts and can be fitted without making any modification to the drive or pulleys. Currently stocked in the UK by Brammer and Optibelt UK, they are available in all common sizes, including SPZ, SPA, SPB and SPC. They can be supplied as sets of single belts or banded belts.
Optibelt UK Ltd, 5 Bishops Court, Winwick Quay, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 8QY; tel: (01925) 415777; fax: (01925) 573751.
