Comparison of a conventional and pipe conveyor in terms of their energy efficiency using simulation modeling

The article presents a simulation model of a conventional and pipe conveyors created in the Tecno-matix Plant Simulation environment. The main objective was to analyse the normal forces, through-put, and energy consumption of both types of conveyors. The model allows for variable input param-eters and experimental comparisons. Four experiments were conducted as part of the research, chang-ing the belt filling coefficient and the design characteristics of the idlers. The results showed that a conventional conveyor transports more material than a pipe conveyor with the same belt width. How-ever, the higher productivity of the conventional conveyor is also associated with higher electricity consumption. Conversely, for the same amount of transported material, the conventional conveyor has slightly lower energy consumption compared to the pipe conveyor. The analysis also confirmed the stability of both systems during long-term simulation. The most significant impact on performance was the filling coefficient, which directly affected the amount of transported material. The results provide practical insights for optimising the design and operation of belt conveyors.