Analysis of automatic control strategy for belt conveyor tensioning device

Abstract The intelligent automatic tensioning device of belt conveyors is essential for ensuring their efficient and stable operation. This study focuses on the variation in belt tension at the head of ultra-long-distance single-drive belt conveyors under different operating conditions and explores the automatic control strategy for the tensioning device. Dynamic modeling and simulation analysis are conducted using ADAMS (Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems) to simulate and reveal the characteristics of belt tension changes under four typical operating conditions: varying belt speeds, sudden increases in load, different startup times, and emergency deceleration. A dynamic automatic control scheme for the tensioning device is proposed. Experimental results show that the proposed control strategy effectively manages the belt tension during various conveyor operations (startup, operation, shutdown, load changes, and speed variations). The strategy improves conveyor transportation efficiency, enhances operational safety, and reduces energy consumption.