Helix Technologies has just released the new dynamic analysis module for the Helix delta-T conveyor design software.
The company says there are a handful of dynamic analysis programs in existence, mainly in the US and Europe, but these have only been used by the developers themselves to perform consulting on long overland conveyor design.
The program was developed in Perth, using internal engineering resources as well as the services of Dr Michael Fisher, formerly Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of WA.
The conveyor dynamic analysis program allows designers to perform full flexible body conveyor design. The new program builds on the strong base formed by the Helix delta-T5 “static” or “rigid body” design program.
This new version calculates the transient belt tensions and velocities during starting and stopping of a conveyor.
The program allows the user to input any number of drives, brakes, pulleys and suchlike and allows for input of drive torque/speed curves, delay times, braking torques, flywheels and inertia effects.
After the dynamic calculations have been performed, the user can view and print two dimensional and surface plot three-dimensional graphs for belt tensions, belt velocities, strain rates and take-up movement versus time step for all points along the conveyor.
The dynamic calculation process uses sophisticated variable step Runge Kutta method integrators for solving the complex differential equations involved.
The company says these dynamic calculations are easy to use and engineers who have static conveyor design experience can perform these complex dynamic simulations using the software.
The program allows users to easily model the belt transient tensions and velocities during starting and stopping of conveyors, view the movement of the take-up pulley during starting and stopping, predict the maximum transient belt tensions at any point along the conveyor, as well as the timing of these transients.
Dynamic calculation results can be compared with the rigid body static calculations in the delta-T5.
The program also allows users to predict the magnitude of transient loads on conveyor structures, calculate the torque loadings on gearboxes and couplings during starting and stopping, eliminate conditions that may cause equipment failures.
Dynamic tuning can also be performed by changing the start delay times on different drives.
Users can add torque control or speed control on drive acceleration, add delay times for multiple drives for dynamic tuning, add flywheels to pulleys to optimise starting and stopping and add brakes to pulleys as required.
Helix says the software program has undergone a rigorous testing and validation process during which it has been validated against real test measurements on long conveyors.