Sealing the conveyor transfer point
© Martin Engineering
© Martin Engineering
© Martin Engineering
© Martin Engineering
© Martin Engineering
© Martin Engineering
© Martin Engineering
Open conveyor belt transfer points often generate dust and spillage, negatively impacting safety, maintenance, and costs. Skirt boards and sealing systems help, but air turbulence during loading can still release dust if proper wear liners are missing. A well-designed skirtboard system is essential to stabilize and contain the material. Various design approaches aim to reduce emissions while improving safety and operational efficiency. This article covers some of the common approaches bulk handlers use to mitigate dust and spillage and ensure a safe and compliant workplace with a lower cost of operation.
Belt conveyors without an enclosure at the transfer point loading zone may still exist in some operations, but are becoming a thing of the past due to dust violations and excessive spillage. Whether the transfer chute is a dead-drop, rock-box, or sloped design, dust and spillage from dry bulk material will still occur and must be controlled. Spillage can limit access to a system for maintenance, foul rolling components, add to labor costs for cleanup, and reduce workplace safety.
A skirtboard on either side of the conveyor belt that is sealed with a cover certainly helps, but operators have...
