DC Velocity - February 2011

materialhandlingupdate CONVEYORS
MOTORS

Conveyor motors today come in three basic types: standard, energy efficient, and super efficient. Selecting a super-efficient motor can cut energy use by 3 percent or more, which can easily add up to thousands of dollars of savings over the unit’s lifetime.

“Super-efficient motors have a very minimal upcharge in the initial cost, but tremendous savings over the life of the system,” Bonham says.

Plus, the more efficient the motor is, the better it will stand up to wear and tear. In other words, not only does a super-efficient motor use less energy, but it also has a longer life expectancy than its less efficient counterparts.

wear and tear, resulting in a longer life. All of this can add up to energy savings of 8 to 10 percent.

POWER TRAIN COMPONENTS

Chains and sprockets are the default choice for power transmission in conveyor systems. If you go with chains and sprockets, Bonham says, consider using low-maintenance chains to help control costs.

However, there are more cost-efficient options. One is to replace the chain with a timing belt and sprocket. An even better alternative is to use a direct drive power transmission system, Bonham says. Not only are direct drive units more efficient, but they have no parts to replace, which eliminates the need for maintenance and parts storage altogether.

GEARBOXES

The choice of gear box also affects energy consumption. For example, a worm gear box has an efficiency rating of 50 to 90 percent, depending on how it’s applied. In comparison, a helical bevel gear box has an efficiency rating of 95 to 98 percent.

Choosing a more efficient gear box gives conveyor owners the options of using a lower-horsepower motor to accomplish the same task or using the same horsepower motor to run a longer section of conveyor. There’s another benefit as well: A more efficient gear box operates with less

MANY SOLID RETURNS

As for what kind of payback buyers can expect from choosing energy-efficient components, that’s hard to say. Conveyor usage patterns vary widely from one operation to the next, making it difficult to attach a number to the potential returns.

But Bonham stresses that they’ll recoup every penny and more. Most users will see a solid return on investment within two to three years, he says, with the prospect of a much bigger payoff over time. ;

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