News on SkyWay cargo complex
The construction of SkyWay EcoTechnoPark facilities has always aroused great interest among the project's partners, and the completion of such is now a special occasion for them! We constantly reported on the construction of SkyWay cargo transport complex, and now it's the time to do the presentation of the object. In the video interview offered to you, its Chief Designer Dmitry Tikhonov talks about the distinctive features, application and many other aspects regarding the creation and operation of the complex, its rolling stock and track structure.
In the SkyWay cargo transport complex, the Сompany's engineers used a whole range of non-standard solutions proposed by General designer Anatoly Yunitskiy. They are designed to significantly improve the system's performance in comparison with competitors, for example, conventional conveyor belts. Firstly, unitrans is a kind of a continuous train: the loading belt in it moves on a wheel pair along a steel rail, which increases the stability and safety of cargo, also ensuring low energy losses. Secondly, an external drive engine is used in unitrans, which allows building cargo complexes without length limitations. Thirdly, the rotational unloading pattern of unitrans makes it possible to save time on micrologistics, which saves a lot of time on a large scale, and, consequently, funds.
The possible applications of the SkyWay cargo transport complex include the mining industry. Delivery of bulk cargoes (raw materials for metallurgy, chemical industry, etc.) can be combined with other types of transportation due to the multimodality of SkyWay transport. The SkyWay cargo complex is able to optimize the logistics of industrial shipments, therefore, this solution attracts the attention of potential customers. For example, a representative of Argentine business circles expressed particular interest in this cargo complex during his recent visit. Shale hydrocarbon deposits are being actively developed in this country, which requires the development of cargo infrastructure.
In addition, the basic scheme of the SkyWay cargo complex overpass implies that the main loads from the span structure and rolling stock are transmitted to anchor supports — this allows to make the intermediate support lightweight, cheap and convenient for installation without losing its strength.
Naturally, this video report will also depict the state of affairs at our transport system and the immediate plans for the continuation of work prior to its commissioning. Of course, our film crew could not overlook the production process of the cargo complex.
Translation of the video:
Mikhail Kirichenko: Hallo! Here is Mikhail Kirichenko with you. You are watching SkyWay news, where we report on the developments and implementation of breakthrough transport technologies. The time has come to present to you our cargo transport system. Nobody will do it better than its Chief Designer Dmitry Tikhonov. Hallo, Dmitry!
Dmitry Tikhonov: Good day, Mikhail!
M.K.: As the Chief Designer, please describe us SkyWay cargo transport system.
D.T.: The work of the cargo transport complex is presented by the operation of two transport vehicles. Primarily, it is the system of continuous transport Unitrans, which is a closed-loop infinite belt on wheel pairs. As compared to a conventional conveyor, unitrans is driven with a pull-type non-friction mechanism using the hitches fixed on the external drive itself and on unitrans wheel pairs.
M.K.: What is the benefit of the system created by professionals of SkyWay Technologies Co. under the leadership of Anatoly Yunitskiy?
D.T.: The simplest and most evident benefit provided by the unitrans system is a direct resting of a steel wheel on a steel rail. It gives a considerable advantage in energy efficiency, i.e. power consumption on overcoming rolling resistance is considerably less than in classic designs, when a rubber belt is resting on roller supports.
M.K.: OK. And what about unitruck, which is more familiar to our viewers? Would you please explain this system to us?
D.T.: Unitruck is a single vehicle that can run both separately and in automatic trains.
M.K.: As I understand both the types of SkyWay cargo transport can be loaded and unloaded without stopping, just on the run. Is it right?
D.T.: Absolutely. Loading and unloading of unitrans is performed on the run. Unitruck is loaded statically, in standstill position, and unloaded dynamically, i.e. in moving fashion.
M.K.: What are the key elements of the track structure at this complex?
D.T.: Well, the loading terminal is the basic element for loading unitrans system. It performs loading of bulk cargo onto the cargo-carrying belt of unitrans using an inclined conveyor. At the unloading/loading terminal, unitrans is unloaded, cargo is accumulated in it and becomes an initial raw material for loading the unitruck. The anchor support is the structure with technological equipment located in it. In this case the anchor support houses the external drive — the traction station that provides transmission of the puling force to the unitrans belt. It passes to the U-turn curve and then takes a horizontal position after it. That means we have an unstressed structure by design that is filled with concrete including wind braces and rolling tracks at the lower chords for unitruck motion. In spite of a small width of the cargo-carrying belt in the unitrans system, we have the possibility to transport bulk cargo of about 5-6 mln tons per year at a sufficiently high speed. It is quite a high performance capacity with such modest size.
M.K.: Will it be everywhere that both these cargo transports are combined?
D.T.: Unitruck and unitrans may act as independent systems for cargo transportation. Everything depends on the feasibility study for each project requiring to use either this or that type.
M.K.: Thank you. What are your working plans for the near future?
D.T.: Primarily it is the determination of energy efficiency in this system compared to automobile and railway transport or a conventional conveyor. Later we will pass over to a number of tests including long-term ones that will furnish info on the reliability of our transport system.
M.K.: Thank you for the interesting interview, Dmitry. Sign up to our YouTube channel. Follow the news update at our official website. Support our project. And your whole cargo transportation will be in safe hands.
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