ScrewConveyorEngineeringGuide:HorsepowerCalculation

GraphicMethodofCalculation
Thetotalhorsepower(TSHP)requiredatthedriveshafttodrivetheloadedconveyorsystemmaybecalculated
graphicallybyuseofthenomographsattheendofthissection.Thefrictionhorsepower(FHP),determinedwiththefirst
nomograph,addedtotheMaterialHorsepower(MHP),determinedwiththesecondnomograph,equalstheTotalShaft
Horsepower(TSHP).
FrictionHorsepowerAstraightedgeplacedatthefirsttwoknownvalues,conveyorsize(relatedtohangerbearingclass
aslistedinhangerbearingfactortable)andlength,willintersectareferencepointonthecenterline.Astraightedge
placedfromthisreferencepointtothethirdknownvalue,conveyorspeed,willintersecttheunknownvalue,Friction
Horsepower,onthelastline.
MaterialHorsepowerAstraightedgeplacedatthefirsttwoknownvalues,conveyorcapacityandMaterialHorsepower
Factor,willintersectareferencepointonthecenterline.Astraightedgefromthereferencepointtothethirdknownvalue,
conveyorlength,willintersecttheunknownvalue,MaterialHorsepower,onthelastline.

CalculationbyEquation
TSHPmayalsobecalculatedbyequationusingthefollowingformulas:

FrictionH.P.Calculation:
FHP=

DFxHBFxLxS
1,000,000

MaterialH.P.Calculation:
MHP=

CFHxWxMFxL
1,000,000

OR
MHP=

CPxMFxL

1,000,000
Note:IfcalculatedMaterialHorsepowerislessthan5itshouldbecorrectedforpotentialoverload.Thecorrected
horsepowervaluecorrespondingtothecalculatedMaterialHorsepowerwillbefoundonthelowerscaleoftheMaterial.
HorsepowerOverloadCorrectionChart.

TotalShaftH.P.Calculation
TSHP=FHP+MHP*
*Correctedifbelow5HP.
Note:Theactualmotorhorsepowerrequiredtodrivetheloadedconveyorsystemisdependentonthemethodusedto
reducethespeedthemotortotherequiredspeedoftheconveyor.Drivelossesmustbetakenintoconsiderationwhen
selectingthemotoranddriveequipment.

EquationSymbols
TSHP

TotalShaftH.P.

FHP

FrictionH.P.(H.P.requiredtodrivetheconveyorempty)

MHP

MaterialH.P.(H.P.requiredtomovethematerial)

ConveyorLength

ConveyorSpeed

DF

ConveyorDiameterFactor

HBF

HangerBearingFactor

CFH

ConveyorCapacity

Weightpercu.ft.

CP

Capacity,lbs.perhr.

MF

MaterialH.PFactor(FromtheMaterialsTable)

DiameterFactors
Diameter

Factor

12

18

31

10

37

12

55

14

78

16

106

18

135

20

165

24

235

HangerBearingFactors
BearingType

BearingFactor

BearingClass

Ball

1.0

Babbit

1.7

II

2.0

III

4.4

IV

Bronze
*GraphiteBronze
Plastic,laminatedfabricbase
Nylon
*Bronze,oilimpregnated
Wood
*Plastic,graphiteimpregnated
*Nylon
*Teflon
*HardIron
*HardSurfaced
*NonLubricated

ConveyorsWithModifiedFlights
Theprocedureforcalculationofhorsepowerforconveyorswithspecialormodifiedflightsisidenticaltothatusedfor
standardconveyorsexceptthattheMaterialHorsepowermustbemultipliedbyoneormoreofthefollowingapplicable
factors.

ModifiedFlightFactors
FlightType

ConveyorLoading

15

30

45

95

CutFlight

1.10

1.15

1.2

Cut&FoldedFlight

1.50

1.7

RibbonFlight

1.05

1.14

1.20

*NotRecommendedConveyorsWithPaddles*

ConveyorsWithPaddles

Factor

PaddlesPerPitch
1

1.29

1.58

1.87

2.16

*Std.paddlesat45reversepitch
TotalShaftHorsepower(TSHP)iscalculatedbyaddingMaterialHorsepower,multipliedbytheappropriatemodifiedflight
factororfactors,toFrictionHorsepower.
Note:Conveyorswhichhavedeviationinpitchonlydonotrequirespecialconsideration,andtheirhorsepower
calculationsareasdescribedforstandardconveyors.

Example
A10inchconveyor35feetlongwithacapacityof10tonsperhourat45RPMhasbeenselected.
FromtheMaterialsTable,aHorsepowerFactorof0.8isfoundforthematerialtobeconveyed.Thetablealsoindicates
Series4hangerbearingsandshafts.Hardironbearingsandhardenedcouplingshaftshavebeenselectedtosuitthis
requirement.
FrictionHorsepower,thehorsepowerrequiredtodrivetheconveyorempty,iscalculatedasfollows:
DiameterFactor=37
HangerBearingFactor=4.4
Length=35
RPM=45
FHP=

37x4.4x35x45

=0.256
1,000,000
MaterialHorsepower,thehorsepowerrequiredtomovethematerial,iscalculatedbythefollowingequation:
Capacity(inlbs.perhr.)=20,000
HorsepowerFactor
LengthRPM=4.4
Length=35
RPM=45
MHP=

20,000x0.8x35
1,000,000

=0.560

SincethecalculatedMaterialHorsepowerislessthan5,itisnecessarytofindthecorrectedhorsepowervalue
correspondingto0.56horsepowerontheOverloadCorrectionChartbelow.Thisvalueisfoundtobe1.320horsepower.
TotalShaftHorsepower(TSHP)isthesumofFrictionhorsepowerandthecorrectedMaterialHorsepower.ThusTSHPis
calculatedasfollows:

TSHP=0.256+1.320=1.576H.P.
Assumingadriveefficiencyof85%resultinginatotaldrivehorsepowerof1.853,astandard2horsepowermotorwould
beselectedforthedriveinput.
Thehorsepowerrequiredfortheaboveconveyormayalsobedeterminedgraphicallybytheuseofthetwohorsepower
nomographs.ThefirstnomographdeterminesFrictionHorsepower.TheseconddeterminesMaterialHorsepower.Total
ShaftHorsepowerisdeterminedbyaddingthetwovalues.

FrictionHorsepower

CorrectedMaterialH.P.
FrictionHorsepowerNomograph

MaterialHorsepower

BearingClass/ConveyorSize

Length

Speed

FrictionH.P.

MaterialHorsepowerNomograph

CapacityPerHour

MaterialH.P.Factor

Length

MaterialH.P.