Conveyor Belt Capacity Calculator
Determine mass flow rate in Tons Per Hour (TPH), volumetric load cross-section, belt speed requirements, and drive motor horsepower per CEMA standards.
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How Belt Conveyor Capacity & Drive Sizing Work
Bulk materials handling throughput is calculated per Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) empirical formulas:
Volumetric Flow (ft³/hr) = Load Cross-Section Area (sq ft) × Belt Speed (FPM) × 60
Tons Per Hour (TPH) = (Volumetric Flow × Bulk Density lbs/ft³) / 2,000
Lift Power (HP) = (TPH × Lift Height in Feet) / 990
Total Motor HP ≈ (Friction HP + Lift HP) / Mechanical Drive Efficiency (0.85)
Max Incline Limitation: Crushed stone and gravel begin rolling backward down smooth rubber belts at inclines exceeding 16 to 18 degrees. Steeper angles require chevron-cleated or pocket belts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard belt speed for quarry aggregate conveyors?
For 24" to 36" belts carrying crushed stone or gravel, 300 to 450 FPM is standard. Slower speeds (200 FPM) are used for large lump sizes to prevent chute impact damage, while high-capacity sand belts run up to 600 FPM.
Why do 35-degree idlers carry significantly more material than 20-degree idlers?
Troughing idlers bend the flat rubber belt into a U-shaped trough. A 35-degree trough increases the cross-sectional area of the material burden by roughly 25% over a 20-degree idler, drastically reducing edge spillage without requiring a wider belt.
How does lump size constrain minimum belt width?
CEMA rules state that for sized material (uniform lumps), belt width must be at least 3 times the largest lump diameter. For unsized material (containing fines), belt width must be at least 2.5 times the maximum lump dimension.