Data acquisition and automatisation of a conveyor idler test stand

Precise determination of the time-to-failure for conveyor idlers allows the planning of regular conveyor system maintenance and well-timed replacement of worn conveyor garlands. Incidental delays in power plant coal supply leads to a significant reduction in overall thermal power plant efficiency. This paper describes a test stand for the laboratory testing of conveyor idlers, under the influence of different radial loads, which was developed by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Belgrade. Data acquisition and processing are also considered, which includes control, monitoring and automatisation of the test stand. Machine protective systems, which ensure a high level of machine safety, were specifically redesigned due to the importance of operator safety and health.