Abstract
An innovative belt-conveying technology fundamentally changes belt-conveying limitations by carrying a standard conveyor belt on lightweight wheeled carriages that run on rails, as distinct from a belt moving over the fixed idlers of conventional conveyors. This wheel-on-rail transport mode allows new flexibility for haulage electrification along with unmatched power efficiency and substantial construction-cost reductions.
The world’s first production conveyors to implement this design are slated for commissioning in 2025. One system will haul up to 13,000mtph of ROM copper ore over a 3,000m route, with a conveyor of this scale estimated to save more than US$2,000,00 per year in power costs along with CO2 reductions projected at 13,000mtpy, compared to a conventional belt conveyor. A second system of similar length will be commissioned in July 2025 to carry 5,000mtph.
This presentation sketches the enabling technical features of the design, and reports on several case studies that compare the power consumption and installed major equipment of the new technology with conventional conveyors in a range of conditions frequently encountered by Canadian mining companies.