Experimental investigation of conveyor idlers operational characteristics

The efficiency of thermal power plants significantly depends on the efficiency of belt conveyor systems. Conveyor idlers, as key parts of belt conveyors, are often the main cause of bulk material transportation systems failures. Testing the operational characteristics of conveyor idlers in laboratory and exploitation conditions is a prerequisite for any progress in the field of increasing energy efficiency of conveyor systems. This paper describes an analysis and discussion of testing results for different types of conveyor idlers, in terms of their performances under the act of predefined radial load. Tests were conducted on a new conveyor idler's testing machine developed at the University of Belgrade-Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The presented tests are performed in order to determine the quality of carrying and return conveyor idlers. The obtained results will help in solving the key problems in the critical areas of conveyor systems and will increase their energy efficiency. Finally, the expected results can potentially reduce the financial and energy losses which conveyor idlers cause in belt conveyor systems, as well as in the whole system of thermal power plants

Experimental investigation of conveyor idlers operational characteristics

The efficiency of thermal power plants significantly depends on the efficiency of belt conveyor systems. Conveyor idlers, as key parts of belt conveyors, are often the main cause of bulk material transportation systems failures. Testing the operational characteristics of conveyor idlers in laboratory and exploitation conditions is a prerequisite for any progress in the field of increasing energy efficiency of conveyor systems. This paper describes an analysis and discussion of testing results for different types of conveyor idlers, in terms of their performances under the act of predefined radial load. Tests were conducted on a new conveyor idler's testing machine developed at the University of Belgrade-Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The presented tests are performed in order to determine the quality of carrying and return conveyor idlers. The obtained results will help in solving the key problems in the critical areas of conveyor systems and will increase their energy efficiency. Finally, the expected results can potentially reduce the financial and energy losses which conveyor idlers cause in belt conveyor systems, as well as in the whole system of thermal power plants

Soft magnetic properties of MnZn ferrites prepared by powder injection moulding

In this study, properties of soft-magnetic manganese zinc ferrite manufactured by powder injection moulding - PIM technology were presented. A powder consisting of Mn1- xZnxFe2O4 with small addition of hematite □-Fe2O3 was mixed with an organic binder (wax and thermoplastic) to form ferrite feedstock. The ferrite feedstock was injected in a mould with a cavity shaped like a small cylinder with a hole on the main axis. Injection moulded samples were then solvent, thermally debinded and sintered in air atmosphere. Structure of sintered sample was characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and thermomagnetic measurements. Magnetic properties were measured by hysteresis graph at different frequencies up to 1 kHz. Sintered sample contains a mixture of two phases Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 (68 wt. %) and α-Fe2O3 (32 wt. %). The Curie temperature is TC ≈ 220°C for the green sample but after the heating up to 470°C, TC increase up to about 300°C. The high increase of normalized magnetic permeability of about 800 % was observed due to melting and burning of binder. The hysteresis loop of sintered MnZn ferrite toroidal cores has an R-shape with saturation of 0.44 T and remanence ratio of 0.49. The low value of coercivity (only 47 A/m) was related to the presence of α-Fe2O3 crystalline phase and attained already optimum density (ρ ≈ 4.8 g/cm³) i.e. observed low level of porosity. Attained relative magnetic permeability μr ≈ 2000 as well as power losses Ps ≈ 21 W/kg for sintered sample (at 1 kHz; 0.39 T) is in agreement with the MnZn ferrite commercial samples. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI 172057

Biological indication of heavy metal pollution in the areas of Donje Vlase and Cerje (southeastern Serbia) using epiphytic lichens

The performance of two epiphytic lichen species (Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Parmelia sulcata Taylor) as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in natural areas around the city of Niš (southeastern Serbia) were evaluated. The concentration of 19 heavy metals in lichen samples was measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. For the majority of the elements the concentrations found in Parmelia sulcata Taylor were higher than in Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. In addition, interspecific differences in heavy metal accumulation between Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Parmelia sulcata Taylor are observed. Parmelia sulcata Taylor showed a tendency to accumulate Fe, Mn, Ni and Ti while Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. preferentially concentrated Cu on both locations. A clear distinction between lithogenic (Mn-Cu-Ti) and atmospheric elements (Ni-Co-Cr-Ag-Pb-Hg) was achieved by cluster analysis. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III41018, br. OI 171025, br. 172017 and br. III41017