Replace V-Belts With Cogged V Belt or Synchronous Belt Drives

Replace V-Belts With Cogged or Synchronous Belt Drives



About one-third of the electric motors in the industrial and commercial sectors use belt drives. Belt drives provide flexibility in the positioning of the motor relative to the load. Pulleys (sheaves) of varying diameters allow the speed of the driven equipment to be increased or decreased. A properly designed belt transmission system provides high efficiency, decreases noise, requires no lubrication, and presents low maintenance requirements. However, certain types of belts are more efficient than others, offering potential energy cost savings. 

The majority of belt drives use V-belts. V-belts use a trapezoidal cross section to create a wedging action on the pulleys to increase friction and improve the belt’s power transfer capability. Joined or multiple belts are specified for heavy loads. V-belt drives can have a peak efficiency of 95 percent to 98 percent at the time of installation. Efficiency is also dependent on pulley size, driven torque, under or over-belting, and V-belt design and construction. Efficiency deteriorates by as much as 5 percent (to a nominal efficiency of 93 percent) over time if slippage occurs because the belt is not periodically retensioned. 

Cogged V belts have slots that run perpendicular to the belt’s length. The slots reduce the bending resistance of the belt. Cogged belts can be used with the same pulleys as equivalently rated V-belts. They run cooler, last longer, and have an efficiency that is about 2 percent higher than that of standard V-belts. 

Synchronous belts (also called timing, positive-drive, or high-torque drive belts) are toothed and require the installation of mating toothed-drive sprockets. Synchronous belts offer an efficiency of about 98 percent and maintain that efficiency over a wide load range. In contrast, V-belts have a sharp reduction in efficiency at high torque due to increasing slippage. Synchronous belts require less maintenance and retensioning, operate in wet and oily environments, and run slip-free. But, synchronous belts are noisy, unsuitable for shock loads, and transfer vibrations. 

EXAMPLE

A continuously operating, 100-hp, supply-air fan motor (93 percent efficient) operates at an average load of 75 percent while consuming 527,000 kWh annually. What are the annual energy and dollar savings if a 93 percent efficient (η1) V-belt is replaced with a 98 percent efficient (η2) synchronous belt? Electricity is priced at $0.05/kWh. 

Energy Savings = Annual Energy Use x (1 – η1/η2 ) = 527,000 kWh/year x (1 – 93/98) = 26,888 kWh/year 

Annual Cost Savings = 26,888 kWh x $0.05/kWh = $1,345 

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS

For centrifugal fans and pumps, which exhibit a strong relationship between operating speed and power, synchronous belt sprockets must be selected that take into account the absence of slippage. Operating costs could actually increase if slippage is reduced and a centrifugal load is driven at a slightly higher speed. 

Synchronous belts are the most efficient choice. However, cogged belts may be a better choice when vibration damping is needed or shock loads cause abrupt torque changes that could shear a synchronous belt’s teeth. Synchronous belts also make a whirring noise that might be objectionable in some applications. 

Suggested Actions

• Conduct a survey of belt-driven equipment in your facility. Gather application and operating hour data. Then, determine the cost effectiveness of replacing existing V-belts with synchronous belts and sprockets. 

• Consider synchronous belts for all new installations as the price premium is small due to the avoidance of conventional pulley costs. 

• Install cogged belts where the retrofit of a synchronous belt is not cost effective. 

Resources

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) - DOE’s MotorMaster+ and MotorMaster+ International software tools help you make motor comparisons and selection on a broad range of motors. 

Visit the BestPractices Website at www.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices to access various energy efficiency resources. 

Reprinted from Motor Systems Tip Sheet #5, “Replace V-Belts with Cogged or Synchronous Belt Drives,” from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. For more information, visit www.eere.energy.gov. 

Contitech United Kingdom Power Transmission Systems - Wrapped narrow-section V-belts for high-performance applications

Contitech United Kingdom Power Transmission Systems - Wrapped narrow-section V-belts for high-performance applications



Conti-V Advance is suitable for heavy-duty drives in the general mechanical engineering sector, including compressors, fans, construction machinery, and gardening equipment. It is also suitable as a coupling belt as well as for applications that require counterflexing.

As Conti-V Advance transmits significantly more power than a conventional V-belt, drives in which belt sets are used can be designed to be much narrower. The number of belts can thus be reduced, which saves system costs.

In accordance with ISO 1813, the Conti-V Advance is electrically conductive, temperature resistant from -30°C to +80°C, has limited oil resistance, and is available in SPZ, SPA, SPB, and SPC profiles.

How to Measure Lawn Mower Belts

Lawn mower belts have become extraordinarily famous over the last few years.  The primary reason for that is the way to their extreme sturdiness and strength in addition to their cost delivered pricing. So what precisely are Kevlar garden belts? Well, they've constructed the usage of natural polyamide fibers which might be manufactured the use of complex chemical techniques.

How to Replace a Drive Belt on a Riding Mower

A riding lawn mower is regularly the mower of preference while trimming high grasses on expansive residences. Using mowers are normally required for soccer fields, farms, and occasionally homes. This way, those who are cutting the grass can ride in comfort as they rest at the seat and force the vehicle. Even as those mowers make it less difficult to mow the lawn that does not mean you may honestly perform one without right understanding.

Lawn Mower Belts

Lawn mowers are honestly gardening equipment that has been slowly rising in popularity in latest years. And it ought to come as no huge wonder in reality because these have pretty a few blessings and benefits. Also, regardless of the fact that they may be pretty costly, they will in all likelihood become being a prudent funding in the future years.

How to Work a Riding Lawn Mower

A riding lawn mower is regularly the mower of preference while trimming high grasses on expansive residences. Using mowers are normally required for soccer fields, farms, and occasionally homes. This way, those who are cutting the grass can ride in comfort as they rest at the seat and force the vehicle. Even as those mowers make it less difficult to mow the lawn that does not mean you may honestly perform one without right understanding.

            Mower Belt

Safety

One's safety is a large challenge when running this massive hunk of machinery. If you're no longer cautious, you can damage yourself, the ones around you, and the vehicle itself. The extra you already know about how to paintings the mower, the higher you could thoroughly operate the device. Consult the operation guide to absolutely understand how the version works. If the mower came with a video, it's for your advantage to observe it. When you're equipped to mow, check out the inside situations. You have to have plenty of daytime left and you should avoid precipitation in view that water will not be correct for the automobile. Undergo the yard and clean away rocks and sticks that might get inside the manner. Keep in mind that the blade radius reaches out farther, so youngsters and pets ought to steer clear of the mower while it's on.

First Steps

Before you get to it, undergo some preliminary steps. Evaluate the tire stress to look it's at an excellent level. Look over the belts to look that they're sufficiently tight. Check the oil levels and wipe off the dipstick the use of an antique rag before setting it back in. See that the gas is crammed up sufficient. Subsequent, be sure the brakes are engaged. The blades have to now not be engaged. Fix the slicing height so it is where you need it. Pick out the very best stage for uneven surfaces. Positioned the mower in neutral and flip the important thing in the ignition to let your engine heat up.

Mower V belt - 4L Section

Operation

Now you can start mowing. It’s counseled that you start in first equipment. The better the equipment, the faster you go. Maximum oldsters suggest using round in second gear. You may transfer gears by means of pushing inside the grab. Apply the brakes as required and use the steerage controls to maneuver the device. Make sure to go smooth round corners and obstructions.

Lawn mower belt - Drive Parts Direct from Driveparts Direct

Lifting your Lawn Mower

In terms of lawn mower renovation, there's one piece of the system this is essential to make sure your safety, and that is the mower lift. This rings, in particular, true in terms of using mowers as they are instead huge and quite heavy. With the aid of the use of a lawn mower lift, you may relax your lawn mower and work on it correctly without having to worry approximately the jack slipping. through the usage of a lift, you may without difficulty get right of entry to the underside of the mower so you can trade blades or even exchange out belts if you need to in a secure way.

Lawn & Garden Belt

You will also find that by the use of a jack or other kind of lifting tool, you are handiest selecting up one side of the mower. by doing this, you can sincerely harm your garden mower with the aid of having engine oil flood your carburetor or having gas spill into your oil, causing your engine to run badly. fixing something like this may turn out to be costing you extra money than you'll need to pay and there is a great threat that it'd turn out to be being less expensive to buy the raise inside the first region.

Even as there are times when you may use a jack or jack stand to work on a driving lawn mower, such as converting out a tire or replacing a deck pulley, having a boost to do all the primary paintings will make things an awful lot easier on you. When the entirety is taken into consideration, having a mower elevate is a practicality that need to not go unheeded. Every mower restore save can have a few form of lift so that it will comfy the mower and lift it frivolously off the floor to make it simpler to work on. In case you are thinking of beginning a repair keep, or you already paintings at one, then having a mower elevate is crucial.

Mower V-Belt - 5L Section

There are plenty of various sorts of lifts available, and you'll do little studies on which ones would be first-rate for you and your desires. You could have pneumatic and manual lifts and even lifts which can fall apart for less difficult garage as some repair stores do not have quite as much space as they would love to should paintings on lawn mowers for customers.

Lawn mower belt - Drive Parts Direct from Driveparts Direct