Skyline Conveyor & Tripper Design

Bulk materials handling coal clearance system optimized through innovative tripper and chute design

SOTO bulk materials handling expertise enabled the effective design of a skyline conveyor, automated tripper and discharge chute.  A range of discrete element modeling and finite element techniques were used to ensure the chute design optimised the flow of bulk materials in the coal clearance system.

Achievements:

SOTO achievements and outcomes of this project include:

• Discrete element modeling techniques used to derive optimum chute geometry
• Testing variety of scenarios for optimal strength to weight ratio of the automated tripper and skyline conveyor gantry sections
• Design successfully enabled workshop assembly of head frames and tripper and minimised fabrication, transport and construction costs through the design of a low chord height gantry section
 

Scope:

• Assessment of material flow characteristics for a range of moisture content>

• Trajectory assessment and approximation for material impact envelope>

• High wear regions and wear linear specification>

• Strength to weight ratio optimization of chute structure>

• Assessment for chute wing deflection>

• Chute failure scenarios and lump clearances>

• Fabrication and installation constraints considered>

Location: Whitehaven Coal, Narrabri, 2009