Martin Engineering announce latest innovation for skirtboard sealing systems

When tons of transferred bulk material hits a moving belt, three things happen: fines scatter, cargo shifts as it settles and dust becomes airborne. The impact can create turbulent air that seeks the easiest escape from any gap it can find, carrying dust and fines with it. These gaps generally appear on the sides of the enclosure between the chute wall and the belt. Skirting systems address the challenge of containing fugitive dust and spillage.

Usually made from natural or SBR rubber (or specialty formulations for specific applications such as underground mining, food, etc.), the skirting extends down the entire length of the transition enclosure and is generally tapered at the bottom to match the trough angle of the belt. It is intended to maintain a seal on the enclosure and help trap any fine particles and dust that is not contained by the wear liners and chute wall.

As the skirt edge loses its seal, gaps are created, which allow material to become entrapped in a ‘pinch point.’ This causes abrasion that gouges or chafes the surface of the belt down its entire length. Some of the major issues from entrapment include scalloping, when wedged material causes excessive wear, and grooves, when debris collects under the skirt causing friction damage. Regardless of the belt tension, belt sag will create a space for fugitive dust to escape or for material to become entrapped. This is avoided by retrofitting a skirt sealing system with impact cradles or edge support rather than rollers in the loading zone.

Wear liners are typically welded to the inside of the chute wall with the skirtboard attached on the outside using an adjustable clamp system. However, the internal design can allow some material buildup in the gap between the wear liner and the skirtboard, depending on the size of the aggregate.

External wear liner and skirting configurations place both pieces of equipment outside the chute wall. Placing the skirt seal and wear liner outside of the chute makes it easier for workers to perform adjustments safely. The result is a better seal on the belt and less material entrapment.

Self-adjusting skirting maintains a seal automatically as belt path fluctuates due to its design, without the need for adjustment and only periodic inspection. A low-profile skirting assembly should need only 6 in. of clearance for installation and maintenance in small spaces.

Case study – grain terminal in Brazil reduces dust

The Port of Santos in São Paulo is the busiest in Latin America. Operating at Terminal 26, T-Gra~o manages the import and export of over 3.6 million tpy of malt, wheat, soy and maize.Transfer points at T-Gra~o range between 32-50 ft in height. The fugitive emissions affected air quality and visibility in the immediate work areas, forcing personnel to wear protective masks when working around any part of the conveyor system. The dust often traveled beyond the site line, sparking complaints. Before the chute upgrade, a cleaning crew of 45 workers spent 24 hours per month on dust and spillage cleanup.

Technicians constructed a longer sealed enclosure with the ability to control airflow and give dust extra space to settle. They added several other critical components including external dual seal skirtboard and wear liner system. Impact cradles and slider cradles replaced the idlers to seal gaps in the chute.

Operators immediately observed significant results. As material moved through the system, particulates remained within the enclosure and either collected in the dust bags or settled back into the cargo flow. After a lengthy observation period, operators report that there has been less downtime for cleanup and maintenance, as well as improved workplace safety.

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