february2022 - 32

Airports
The Nord Drivesystems next generation
of IE5+ motors utilize a reduced
noise, high efficiency design suited to
acoustically sensitive areas in airports.
Drum motor mechanical efficiency is
about 96 percent compared to 70 percent or
80 percent efficiency of an external drive.
The gears are manufactured to AGMA
12 standards, that is honed and ground
for low noise standards to 46db compared to
56-60db for conventional systems.
When the conveyor load is higher than what it
was designed for and the windings temperature
reaches 135 degrees Celsius, an overload protection
device connected to the motor control stops
feeding voltage to the motor.
Kanaris says VDG designs its drum motors
to be maintenance-free for almost 10 years or
80,000 hours. This compares to 37,000 for conventional
drive systems, according to VDG testing.
VDG uses high quality components for its
motors and all units are sealed under a vacuum to
increase the life of the motor. They're permanently
lubricated, so vibration analysis isn't needed.
" It's a safer system to use, it doesn't need to
be maintained, you save money on electricity
and it provides the same work with less
space, " Kanaris says.
Traditional conveyor motors are
fan cooled. The newest generation
of drum motors addresses heat
via magnetic density of the core
and current density of the winding.
Kanaris says this redesign
allows VDG drum motors to run
cooler without the need for external
cooling methods. The operating
temperature of the VDG motors is 75
degrees Celsius, giving the oil a viscosity
of 50-60 centistokes.
" The true source of the heat is current
density and magnetic density, "
Kanaris says.
Baggage handling systems depend
DuoDrive is a
integrated gear unit/
motor concept with a
hygienic wash-down
design.
on lagging for operation. Cold bond
and hot bond vulcanized conventional lagging relies solely on
the adhesive bond between the lagging and the shell to transmit
power to the belt. If the lagging process is not properly executed
or expired material used, the shear force on the adhesive can
result in lagging delamination.
VDG introduced the IronGrip lagging system in 2019, which
has steel bars welded across the drive drum with lagging materials
between these bars. The system eliminates uneven lagging
wear, since the rubber cannot wear below the steel bars.
The IronGrip provides higher pulling force so the belt can perform
with less tension. This extends the life of the belt and other
mechanical components like bearings and idlers.
In-house tests by VDG estimated the life of the IronGrip lagging
to be 4 to 5 times longer than the standard lagging.
32 || Ground Support Worldwide || February 2022
NORDAC ON was
developed to meet the
special requirements
of horizontal conveyor
technology, as well as for
the interaction with the new
IE5+ synchronous motor.
" The question is, if we have a conveyor belt drive that
consumes 30 percent less energy, requires no maintenance,
streamlines the conveyor design, improves belt tracking,
increases the life of the belt and the service life of other
mechanical components, and lasts longer than traditional
external drives that are used today, why the VDG Drum Motor
is not used in airline baggage systems, " Kanaris says. " VDG
drum motors are very popular in other industries like postal
parcel, warehousing, mining, aggregates, agriculture, food
processing and others. "
Think Long Term on Your Investment
Supply chain currently remains a challenge and baggage handling
systems are not immune to this issue.
Studdiford says many ongoing baggage handling system
projects are experiencing delays in various components
and parts manufactured overseas, but airports considering
improvement projects should not slow down the upfront planning
and design phase. By the time those projects go to contract,
he believes those supply chain issues should be resolved.
There's a lot of opportunity when it comes to upgrading baggage
handling systems, so Studdiford advises airports to think
longer term on their investment.
" If there is one thing that the global pandemic has shown us
is that there needs to be more consideration of the total cost of
ownership (TCO) of the baggage handling system with regards
to maintenance, staffing and longevity of the system, " he says.
" In other words, balance out the focus from CAPEX to look
at the operational expenditures (OPEX) more closely and the
overall best value for the airport in the long run. "
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS
february2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2022
