The crucial role of on-line measurement in bulk solids handling

On-line measurement has an impact on bulk solids handling in many ways, including: commercial transactions, inventory control, the operation of plant (including automatic operation), troubleshooting, the development of new systems and research (including computer modelling). This chapter aims to: review some current systems and to identify key areas of development in on-line measurement. The variables that are covered include: level, weight, mass flow (both in mechanical and in pneumatic systems) and solids' distribution in pneumatic conveying pipelines. The application of on-line measurement is, of course, extremely wide and this chapter concentrates, although not exclusively, on applications relevant to pneumatic conveying. It has been updated since its presentation in 1997, particularly in the area of solids' flow measurement, by including material from a paper presented at Relpowflo III. The role of on-line measurement in bulk solids handling can be usefully divided into three areas: (a) those required for the operation of a process or system- including commercial transactions, quality control, and inventory control, (b) those acquired during product and system trials for troubleshooting, optimization, modification and design, and (c) those required for understanding - thus improving, for example, computer models of the process.

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