Determining gathering belt capacities for bulk conveyor networks with multiple discrete loading sources

Belt conveyor systems used in handling bulk materials are often loaded intermittently or at varying rates. In some instances, these systems are also fed by multiple loading sources. With such systems, the possibility of loading from two or more sources superimposing must be addressed in specifying the conveyor capacities. Generally, discrete event simulation models have been advocated for specifying belt capacities in these circumstances. During this study, an analytical method is proposd for sizing the belts. It combines an exact expression for the probability distribution for loading and the binomial distribution for the probability that only some belts are loading simultaneously to form a compound distribution for the flow rate. The analytical method and a simulation model are compared for two belt sizing applications. Only minor differences in the belt sizes were evident. When loading sources are similar and flow controls are not present in the belt system, the analytical method would be preferred over the simulation approach because it is easier to apply and much more computationally efficient.