High-Speed Conveyor Spray Transfer Efficiency

Team Members Heading link

  • Roman Flores
  • Sammer Saadeh
  • Oleksandr Wojtowicz
  • Sam Wywrot

Advisor: Dr. Michael Brown

Sponsor: Kyle Bade, Spraying Systems Co.

Project Description Heading link

The overall direction of this project was to improve the transfer efficiency of sprayed material onto a high-speed conveyor belt. A high-speed conveyor moving at speeds over 2,000 feet per minute creates a thick boundary layer of air above the conveyor surface, which can make it difficult for the sprayed material to reach the conveyor surface. This boundary layer can reduce the overall transfer efficiency of a sprayed material to its desired destination. In industries that utilize large amounts of spray material, improving transfer efficiency can yield massive savings. Though different methods are already utilized in the industry, there is a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify the effectiveness as well as to design improved methods to increase transfer efficiency. With this idea in mind, the next problem is how to optimally measure these transfer efficiencies, which is also addressed by utilizing and modifying different setups for spray collection off the belt.

See supporting documentation in the team’s Box drive.