At the current stage of industrial development, logistics is of the utmost importance. The movement speeds of various kinds of cargo during the maintenance of production processes must be maintained at specified parameters, otherwise enterprises will not be able to fulfill the planned tasks. A key role in such processes is played by industrial transport, which carries out transportation, as well as performs lifting and unloading and other auxiliary functions.
Features of industrial vehicles
The specifics of the industrial use of transport equipment is determined by the special characteristics of the goods and the conditions of their delivery. What, in principle, does the concept of an industrial vehicle mean? In each case, it is worth considering the specific functions of technology as a full-fledged and self-sufficient carrier. For example, industrial railway transport, which carries out more than 80% of intra-industrial transportation in the country, is determined through a combination of directly trains and service infrastructure with tracks, signaling devices, structures, etc. It is a tight connection to the technological production or transport infrastructure that is a key feature of such equipment but certainly not the only one.
In addition to the principles of operation and connection with various technological processes, transport of this kind has special operational characteristics. The same railway transport delivers cargo in volumes that are several times higher than the performance of main carriers. A special category is industrial hoisting vehicles, which, depending on the type, not only manipulates loads on the spot, but also moves them up to 600 tons. Heat and electric locomotives operating at mining and processing plants are distinguished by traction and power . For example, 2000-kilowatt equipment is involved in quarrying at a depth of up to 500 m. Conventional equipment, of course, will not cope. And now it’s worth becoming more familiar with the functional orientation of special equipment for the industrial sector.
What are the functions of industrial transport?
The main task can be defined as the movement of cargo, which can be understood as raw materials, fuel, building materials, food products, etc. In many respects, the specificity of the technical organization of the transportation process depends on the type of serviced objects. It is also worth highlighting different ways of moving goods. The following types of transportation are fundamentally shared : long-distance intercontinental, highway automobile and intra-workshop. Technologically, transportation tasks may also differ - equipment moves on rails, on wheels, tracks, etc. Liquid fuel, gas mixtures, electricity and hydraulic pressure can be used as a traction source.
Special attention is paid to the functions of industrial transport associated with lifting and unloading operations. In order to optimize production and transportation processes, equipment manufacturers seek to equip vehicles with power units for handling cargo. Conversely, classic warehouse trucks are actively developing in their driving performance, which expands the possibilities of their application. In some industries, the concept of transport equipment with autonomous capture and movement bodies is in demand. For example, switch cranes and winch mechanisms provide for the possibility of installation and dismantling of structures at the bases of sea vessels.
Automobile transport
One of the most developed and widespread methods of cargo transportation on trackless tracks worldwide. In industrial sectors, long-distance motor transport is used, which carries out transportation on short, long-distance and long-distance routes. Long-distance destinations are usually used to transport valuable and perishable products, as well as materials that are inconvenient or impossible to deliver by other industrial vehicles in the given logistic conditions. Today, in one format or another, cars are used in almost all areas of production activity - from industrial complexes to agricultural enterprises.
Although the road infrastructure is characterized by a whole range of problems associated with environmental and technological negative operating factors, the share of trucks in the tasks of the industrial sector is increasing annually. Also, experts predict the active growth of this type of transportation against the backdrop of improving technology. Optimization of designs and methods of energy supply today already improves the quality of expeditionary services for industrial automobile transport, increasing the volume of cargo turnover. Logistics companies are offering increasingly efficient direct transportation schemes, excluding irrational and high-cost models for using cars.
Railway transport
In many developed countries, railway transport is the main means of transportation on an industrial scale. At the same time, the infrastructure for servicing and maintaining production facilities can organically connect with public railway transport complexes. For example, in Russia, industrial railway transport enterprises are part of the structure of the Russian Railways company and include the following infrastructure elements:
- Railway access roads. The length of industrial access roads in the country is about 60,000 km, which is over 75% of the total length of all railway roads in Russia. The length of lines served by one organization, depending on the size of the latter, can vary from 100 m to 400 km.
- Traction composition. Directly locomotives, most of which are diesel powered. This group includes all kinds of traction machines, mainline diesel locomotives, as well as railcars. Industrial railway networks almost do not use power plants for power, therefore, the infrastructure does not have the corresponding contact networks.
- Rolling stock. Thanks to this technique, industrial railway transport can in principle carry multi-ton cargo. The rolling stock includes both standard freight and special wagons. For example, it can be tanks, platforms, hoppers, dump cars, refrigerators, etc.
Regardless of the composition and form of the railway infrastructure, it should be serviced by a special organization with the appropriate qualifications. These are companies involved in the operation, maintenance and repair of elements of the railway complex.
Technological transport
Also an extensive group of vehicles, which can vary in design, operating principle, purpose, etc. In particular, the following types of industrial vehicles of this category are distinguished:
- Construction machinery.
- Industrial transport.
- Foldable transport.
- Mining and underground machines.
- Communication transport channels.
All varieties of technological transport are combined in that, in addition to delivery, they can also perform intermediate manipulations with cargoes - from lifting and unloading to basic processing like separation. The latter function is especially true for mining bunker trains and self-propelled wagons, which perform basic coarse sorting operations right at the receiving or unloading site.
In warehouse and hydraulic equipment, a greater emphasis is placed on power manipulations of moving under special conditions. The ability to perform intermodal operations, for example, characterizes the floor rail transport. Wheel industrial reach stackers can work with empty and loaded containers, thus not only realizing the movement of cargo, but also performing the distribution of technological equipment at the work site.
Cable cars
The fundamental difference between this type of transport can be called the use of cable traction. Specific devices include end rolls, trolleys, hanging tanks and scraper installations. For transportation of various raw materials along production routes, haul-offs are used. They move uphill along mine workings with a slope of up to 6 degrees, and down they go down under the thrust of their own mass.
At mining plants today, combined devices and devices with rope effort are more often used. These can be small hoisting machines with double-drum winches, provided with traction ropes, safety and trailing devices.
Suspension mechanisms are mainly used by mining industrial enterprises, the transport of which must deliver the rock in conditions where there is no possibility of the device of metal bearing supports and concrete foundations. The traction is carried out by suspended ring roads on a two-rope unit. Such systems have higher performance, but the safety requirements are much higher than conventional cable machines.
Features of conveyor transport
A specific kind of technological transport, which is also used in the maintenance of rock masses. The conveyor principle of the movement of goods is based on the work of belt, screw, scraper and screw mechanisms that deliver the material to the immediate place of processing or collection. For example, in coal mines, scraper and belt conveyors are often used, and belt-cable transport lines are used on the surface. In Russia today there is an active development of industrial transport based on a conveyor system. The total length of such networks is 3000 km, and the speed of movement is from 1 to 7 m / s.
Actually, the main advantage of conveyors is precisely the high flow rate of the delivery line, which also leads to considerable performance indicators - on average, about 15-20 thousand m 3 / h. Delivery volumes and line speed will depend on the power of the connected drive and the structural implementation of the conveyor itself. The length of the transportation line, by the way, can be from 3 to 15 km. But immediately the shortcomings of this transport are revealed, like the need for large-scale construction of the structure directly in the quarry.
Rules for the operation of industrial vehicles
Since industrial vehicles in use can relate to different areas of production, intersectoral rules are applied to regulate operational processes. The main ones include the following:
- Transport is released to the work site or line only subject to its serviceability and readiness of communication lines. First, a special passport for passing inspection should be drawn up.
- Defective or unsafe vehicles are decommissioned and not allowed to operate until they are brought back to a condition suitable for safe use.
- Before commissioning, the vehicle receives a special marking with a state license plate and registration data from the operating organization.
- In accordance with the intersectoral rules for the operation of industrial vehicles, the equipment must be equipped with an emergency kit. It includes not only standard elements like a first aid kit with a fire extinguisher and an emergency stop sign, but also technical devices like wheel stops.
It is also worth emphasizing that only employees with the appropriate qualifications are allowed to directly manage, maintain and maintain transport. As a rule, whole groups of specialists take part in complex operation - from the driver to the electrical engineer and mechanic.
How does this mode of transport affect the environment?
To this day, the main drive mechanism of most vehicles is an internal combustion engine. And in the manufacturing sector, where the greatest demands are placed on capacity, this factor is especially noticeable. For the same reason, the rules on labor protection of industrial vehicles pay special attention to the processes of using fuel and fuels and lubricants. The processes of content, storage and use of oil-containing substances used in refueling equipment are strictly regulated.
But one of the main pollution factors is the exhaust gas. For example, when burning 1 ton of gasoline in a conventional ICE, about 200-250 kg of carbon monoxide is released. Against this background, railway transport is becoming increasingly attractive, which has obvious environmental advantages over the same trucks and trucks. Locomotives emit much smaller volumes of harmful gases, while coping with heavy loads during transportation.
Universal environmental threats include the handling of hazardous goods. Both vehicles and trains can equally carry toxic, fire and explosive materials, which requires special attention when organizing such events. Therefore, the industrial transport of Russia, for example, in accordance with environmental standards, is provided with separate rooms and containers for the transport of combustible, radioactive, flammable, corrosive and gas materials. Moreover, even building paints and varnishes and electrical products require special insulation, both during transportation and during maintenance at a temporary storage point.
Development of transport equipment for industrial use
Prospects for the development of this category of transport are associated with the introduction of new technologies that allow increasing freight flows with the same or less labor and energy resources. In the automotive sector, trucking companies are more and more willing to switch to green technology. This is especially true for short distances, where trucks can only use electrical energy without connecting traditional ICEs. Large companies follow the labor protection requirements for the operation of industrial vehicles, which translates into increased safety of technical equipment. This can be seen in the examples of equipping the cabins with modern climate systems and ventilation systems, as well as in improving the ergonomics of systems and controls. Serious changes are occurring in power plants. The rejection of fuel engines is not yet particularly noticeable, but at least there is a process of replacing explosive diesel engines with units with an improved exhaust gas purification system.
Conclusion
With globalization and the merging of various areas of transport operation, the importance of the processes of organizing transportation. Today, planning of point routes is not enough without a detailed consideration of the various parameters of the operation. Therefore, the practice of developing entire projects for the use of industrial vehicles is being approved. In SNiP 2.05.07-91, for example, there are requirements for accounting for the throughput and transport capacity of a particular vehicle for a settlement period. Schedules of transportation are compiled on the basis of technical and operational data of a particular tool, which are correlated with the nature of the functioning of technological processes in the serviced production. Compliance with the requirements for a detailed calculation of transportation ultimately allows you to minimize the cost of transportation operations, and in some cases significantly increase the productivity of target enterprises in the logistics system of which transport is used.