Bulk Density meter
A little bit of history
Measuring the bulk density according to the European standard EN12580 is common sense in the peat and potting soil industry. In the year 1999 the European goverment determined that peat and potting soil must be traded based on Bulk density and volume. In short ENm³-volume in stead of m³-volume. The reason for this was that there where to many discussions if the right amount of product was delivered to it’s customer. When a truck was completely filled at the manufacturer’s factory, it depended on the distance traveled how optical the filling of the truck was upon arrival at the customer. Was the travel over a nice clean flat road the truck was optical completely full. But was the road not so flat and nice the product on the truck was more compressed at arrival and optical not fully filled. Trading in ENm³-volume would make an end on the discussions.
The industry was allready used measuring the bulk density by hand. A havy work, time consuming, inacurate method with a 20 liter cylinder and several screens resulting 1 or 2 measurements per batch.
EN12580 describes in detail how to determine the bulk density of your soil. The method uses screens with different meshes, dependent of the product you want to measure. The purpose of the screen is to prevent the soil from falling from such a height, that the soil which is already in the cylinder will be compressed due to the speed of the falling soil. The screen also regulates the amount of soil which can fall at a specific time as a whole in the cylinder. Due to this method, the cylinder will be filled as homogeneous as possible.
The INADCO Densimeter
The INADCO Densimeter is a bulk density meter that consist of 3 parts. A measuring module and a motor module. Both attached to a sub-frame.
The sampler module is electronic driven shovel that rotates trough a vertical product stream collecting a small amount of product.
The measuring module consist of a cylinder with the same volume as the cylinder used in the manual method. The measuring cylinder is mounted on a weighing cell.
With adjustable scoop rotation, the sampler takes samples from a vertical product flow. The shovel shall bring the collected sample toward the measuring cylinder where it will be obstructed so it shall fall in the measuring cylinder with zero vertical velocity. The sample taking will be repeated until the measuring cylinder is completely filled. The sample taking will pause and after the calculations the shovel shall rotate over the measuring cylinder to open the bottom. All the collected sample will slide out the cylinder back into the product stream. The shovel shall rotate back closing the bottom and starts again with the sampling. The time consumption of the sampling, calculation and emptying is around 60 seconds resulting in a measurement every 3-5 m³ of product. A much higher rate compared to the manual method.
Advanteges
Fully automatic
Consistant and accurate
Maintenance free
Fully automatic
Satisfied users of the INADCO Densimeter
Bulk Density meter in action
Bulk Density measurement in potting soil
The INADCO Densimeter is mounted in a factory that produces potting soil, bases on mixtures of various types of peat, fertilizers and other additives.
Due to the reproducing method of sampling and the used measurement volume, this results in a high quality of moisture measurement, which in turn ensures a better quality of the potting soil.
Introduction of the Bulk Density meter
The introduction of the Bulk Density meter in 2000. Combined with an INADCO Beltweigher for measuring the EN-Volume of potting soil.
Technical information
Some specs
Minimum | Maximum | Unit | |
Bulk density | 20 | 2000 | g/l |
Volume cylinder | - | 20 | l |
Power supply | - | 240 | V |
Power consumption | 100 | 250 | W |
Measuring cycle | 55 | 70 | sec |
Available options
Moisture Sensor
Option: Moisture sensor
The 20l black measuring cylinder is replaced with a double wall measuring cylinder. Between the two walls is the moisture probe located, covering 80 percent of the surface. The moisture probe makes no contact with the to be measured product and the measuring signal has an intrusion depth of 8-10 cm.
Material | HDPE | ||
Volume | 20 | l | |
Diameter | 315 | mm | |
Measuring cycle | 1 - 3 | sec | |
Measuring range | 1 - 800 | g/l | |
Intrusion depth | 80 - 100 | mm | |
Potting Reference
Option: Potting Reference
With the Potting Reference the firmness of the soil can be measured automatically during the production of the soil mixture. After the measurement you receive a value >1 for the Potting Reference and a value <1 for the Potting Factor. The user can make its own request to determine the Potting Reference or use an internal sequence.
Higher speed
Option: Higher speed
The speed of sampling with the shovel can be controlled. This can bring the measuring sequence back to 45-60 seconds.
Cleaning
Option: Cleaning
The Densimeter will be extended with some extra software to add an air valve on this system. On the panel can be chosen if the air valve must blow on start, stop, after every measurement or a combination. Each having there own duration.
Mobile
Option: Mobile
The mobile Densimeter is a stand-alone system without automatic sampling and any communication to a process computer. It is possible to extend the mobile Densimeter with the options Moisture measurement and Potting Reference.
Do you have any questions?
Contact us and we shall help you!!