Book excerpt: This book is a comprehensive, practical guide and reference to today's mechanical conveyor systems. It covers all types of mechanical conveyors, providing in-depth information on their design, function and applications. More than 180 photographs and schematics illustrate details of design and system layout. An introductory chapter provides an understanding of the characteristics of various types of bulk solids, including their conveyability and the types of conveying systems most effective for each. Following chapters examine each of five major categories of conveying systems, with practical details on their design, operation and applications. The final chapter presents basic information on motors and drives for conveying systems, as well as related equipment such as speed reduction systems and conveyor brakes. The emphasis throughout the text is on practical engineering and operating information, with a minimum of theory. The presentation is systematic and organized for easy reference. A very detailed index enables the quick location of needed information. This guide and reference will be useful to all engineers and other personnel involved in the continuous movement of bulk solids. It serves as both a basic introduction and a desk-top reference. The Authors Dr. Fayed is a Professor and Director of the Powder Science & Technology Group at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto. He is also a licensed Consulting Engineer, a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering. Previously he held positions in process design and development with ICI, Davy McKee, M. W. Kellogg, and Peabody. He has lectured at numerous seminars and workshops at meetings of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and other organizations. He has published many papers on particulate technology and is the co-editor of Powder Science & Technology Handbook. Thomas Skocir in an engineer presently with ECO-TEC