A Pipe conveyor is a type of enclosed belt conveyor designed for clean, environmentally friendly material transport. The Conveyor Belt is rolled into a tubular shape to fully enclose the material, making it ideal for applications where dust control and environmental protection are critical.

Basic Structure of a Pipe Conveyor

A pipe conveyor consists of head and tail pulleys, the conveyor belt, idler sets, drive units, and structural frames. Unlike conventional trough belt conveyors, a pipe conveyor uses hexagonal or octagonal idler arrangements along the carrying side to gradually form the flat belt into a circular tube, fully enclosing the material within the belt.

How Does a Pipe Conveyor Work?

The working principle of a pipe conveyor can be divided into three stages:

1. Transition (tail) section: The belt is flat at the tail pulley, where material is loaded evenly onto the center of the belt via a chute or feeder.
2. Pipe formation section: As the belt moves forward, specially arranged idlers gradually fold the belt edges upward, forming a circular tube that completely encloses the material.
3. Opening and discharge (head) section: At the head pulley, the belt gradually opens from a tube back to a flat shape, allowing material to be discharged at the head end.

Throughout the entire conveying process, the material remains fully enclosed within the belt – achieving true dust-free and spillage-free material transport.

Key Advantages of Pipe Conveyors

• Environmentally friendly: Fully enclosed transport eliminates dust emissions and material spillage, meeting strict environmental regulations.
• Steep incline capability: Achieve up to 30° inclination, adapting to complex terrain.
• 3D spatial curves: Handle horizontal and vertical curves, flexibly bypass obstacles and reduce transfer points.
• Material protection: Shield materials from rain, wind, oxidation, and contamination.

• 

Typical Applications of Pipe Conveyors

Pipe conveyors are widely used in:

• Mining and metallurgy: Transporting ores, concentrates, coal, and other dusty materials.
• Ports and terminals: Long-distance transport of coal, ores, and aggregates with minimized dust.
• Power plants and chemical plants: Handling limestone, FGD gypsum, fertilizers, and other high-sealing materials.
• Grain and food processing: Transporting grains and food products requiring contamination protection.

ZOOMRY has extensive experience in pipe conveyor design and manufacturing, with successful installations in large-scale mining and port projects worldwide. For technical details or a customized solution, please contact our engineering team.