Calculating Horsepower For an Incline Drag Conveyor

Use the following formula to estimate required horsepower for an incline drag (en-masse) conveyor. 


1.  Determine overall ground length of drag conveyor
2. Multiply LENGTH X BUSHELS PER HOUR
3.  Divide results by 55,000 - Write this total down.

4.  Determine the discharge height in feet and multiply by the bushels per hour desired.
5.  Divide the result by 26,500. - Write this total down.

6.  If a curve section is used, divide the BPH desired by 1325.
(If no curve section is used, ignore step 6.)
7.  Add the sums of the individual horsepowers to find the total horsepower.

The above formula has been found to be adequate for products such as shelled corn and soybeans.  HEAVIER PRODUCTS MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL HORSEPOWER.

Formula example:
Overall length of the example conveyor is 50 feet.  The discharge height of the conveyor is 7 feet from the bottom of the conveyor.  There is a curve section used.

50 feet x 5000 bushels per hour = 250,000 divided by 55,000 = 4.5455
7 foot conveyor discharge height x 5000 bushels per hour = 35,000 divided by 26,500 = 1.3208
5000 bushels per hour divided by 1325 (curve section factor) = 3.7736
Add 4.5455 + 1.3208 + 3.7736 = 9.6399 total required horsepower  (Round up to the nearest motor means this conveyor requires a 10 HP electric motor.)