The most recurrent problems on transfer chutes are spillage, blocked chutes, high levels of wear on the receiving belt due to major differences between the material velocity and the belt velocity, rapid chute wear, degradation of the material being transferred, excessive generation of dust and noise and misplacement of the receiving conveyor belt due to unbalanced loading from the transfer chute. “A systems approach to bulk solids handling design is essential to ensure operational characteristics are matched throughout the plant,” says Mark Baller, managing director of Weba Chute Systems. He maintains that this is a prerequisite to ensure smooth flow of materials through the entire plant.

He explains that typically conveyors, feeders, crushers, hoppers and screens are selected based on particular operational requirements, with little emphasis placed on the design of the chutes transferring materials between elements. “However, chutes are essential elements in a bulk solids handling plant, and are also subject to operational characteristics and physical constraints.” The optimisation of chute performance is a process of defining the geometry of the chute to reliably convey material from one point to another. The complexity of chute performance means that chute design should be carried out at the plant design stage, and not added as a conveyance to transfer material from one point to another at a later stage. “The expertise of chute manufacturers is useful during the design stages of a project to eliminate potential flow and maintenance problems at a later stage,” he adds.

“It is an interesting fact that transfer points can contribute to some of the highest maintenance costs on a mine, and yet many engineers often do not view transfer systems as a critical element of the minerals processing system. Weba Chute Systems believes that transfer points, by the very nature of their application, should be accorded the same level of importance as any other machinery in the minerals processing cycle. If one considers the costs of replacing a conveyor belt and the downtime associated with maintenance and belt replacement, it would be foolhardy to ignore the implications of neglecting this critical factor,” Baller asserts.

Weba Chute Systems’ extensive experience and technical expertise, coupled with its broad applications knowledge, has positioned it as the leader in its field. The design of systems is undertaken using sophisticated 3D computer software and data received from customers is always verified. In many instances, the highly skilled personnel at Weba Chute Systems are in a position to make cost saving recommendations to the customer. Baller points out that quality manufacture also forms an important part of the process and performance guarantees, set in accordance with operational and application parameters, are provided with all Weba Chute Systems. Each Weba Chute System is custom designed for the transfer point served and is configured to control the direction, flow and velocity of the calculated volume and type of material processed in a particular application.

“If one considers that the conveyor belt can account for up to 60% of the capital cost of a bulk materials handling plant, the cost implications of constant replacement of a conveyor belt due to wear, can become significantly higher than the original capital investment. By applying an innovative concept such as a Weba Chute System transfer point, one can substantially reduce maintenance expenditure in the minerals processing environment,” Baller concludes.

A SYSTEMS APPROACH PIC 01 : A systems approach to bulk solids handling design is essential to ensure operational characteristics are matched throughout the plant.

A SYSTEMS APPROACH PIC 02 : The optimisation of chute performance is a process of defining the geometry of the chute to reliably convey material from one point to another.

A SYSTEMS APPROACH PIC 03 : Weba Chute Systems believes that transfer points, by the very nature of their application, should be accorded the same level of importance as any other machinery in the minerals processing cycle.