Flo-way

Flowmeters
R

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Applying The Product

9 Prefeed

Devices
9 Product Selection and Sizing
9 Flowmeter Accuracy
9 Information Required
Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Forward Flowguide Transition

Baffle
9
9
9

Maintains material in
the same direction
Low and constant
velocity feeders
Baffle plate may be
used for high or
variable speed feeders

Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Reverse Flowguide Transition

9
9

Reverses direction
of the material
Forces material into
desirable flow
pattern
Important for high
or variable speed
feeders

Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Screw Conveyor

[Most common type of material feeder]

9
9
9

Short pitch or double flight

preferred
Cut back flights of standard
screw
Reduces batch size plus
increases discharge pulse
frequency
Reverse flowguide transition
for variable or constant
speeds above 40 rpm

Solids Flowmeters

short pitch
double flight
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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Rotary Feeder
Provide air seal
9 May be required if material is
pneumatically conveyed or
flowmeter/process isolation
required
9 Reverse flowguide transition
for variable or constant speeds
above 10 rpm
9

Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Bucket Elevators
9
9

Common for grain

Slow elevators produce
heavily pulsing material
discharge requiring
damping
Fast elevators often
require dead box to
reduce velocity

Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Conveyor Belts

9
9

material
discharge
baffle

Generally non-pulsing material discharge, ideal

for flowmeter operation
Reverse flowguide transition (and/or material
discharge baffle) for variable belt speeds or
constant speeds over 1 m/s

Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Drag Conveyors

9
9

Constant and low velocity

Feeder discharge damping or a discharge
baffle should be used to minimise the pulsing
material discharge

Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Vibratory Feeder
motor

vibrating pan
9
9
9

Non-pulsing material discharge

Reverse flowguide transition for variable
speed varieties
Mechanical isolation

Solids Flowmeters

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Pulsing Feeder Discharge Damping

9
9
9

Temporary holding bin

Manual/automatic control
Bin can be used for
integrator on-line
calibration

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Pulsing Feeder Discharge Damping

Top view
9

Baffle plate
recommended for
drag conveyors

baffle

conveyor
discharge

Reduces heavy
material pulsing

slats
Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Short Fall Chutes

9
9
9

Bin/feeder discharge less

than 0.6m (2ft)
Ideal, as velocity due to
gravity is minimal
Centreline and angle to
coincide with flowguide
for distance greater than or
equal to flowguide
diameter

Solids Flowmeters

<0.6m(2ft)

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Long Fall Chutes

9
9
9
9

Bin/feeder discharge more

than 0.6m (2ft)
Material velocity increased
Increased flowmeter
component abrasion
Adaptations may be
required to settle material
into desirable flow patterns

Solids Flowmeters

>0.6m (2ft)

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Dog Leg
9
9
9

Reduces effects of high or

variable material velocity
Important for long fall
chutes
If material is abrasive
9
9

line chute with abrasion

resistent material
or in-feed dead box should be
used

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Deadbox
9
9
9

May be installed where

chute angle changes
Material impacts on itself
Should be used where
9
9
9
9

Material velocity is high

Material velocity is variable
Long fall chute angle changes
Material is very abrasive

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Feed/Discharge Air Pressure

Differential air pressure
anticipated then in-feed
and discharge chutes
should be vented to
common dust collector
9 Balance air pressure by tuning gates
9 If no dust collector then use air bypass
chute
9

Solids Flowmeters

to
common
dust
collector

16

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Flowmeter Selection Guide

Factors to be Considered
9 Material :
9 flowrate

9 abrasiveness

9 particle

9 corrosiveness

size
9 flowability
9 bulk density
9 temperature
Solids Flowmeters

9 area

classification
9 headroom
9 environment
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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Factors to be Considered
9 Prefeeder

9 type
9 size
9 speed

9 Accuracy

Required
9 Vibrations
9 .......etc
Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Bulk Density t/m.cu

Model Selection Guide

0.5
1.0
1.5

10

12

2.0
50
Solids Flowmeters

100

150
MTPH

200

250

300

350
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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Factors Affecting Accuracy

9 Changes

in Materials:

9 Velocity
9 Angle

to sensing plate
9 Energy absorbing characteristics
9 Co-efficient of friction
9 Air

flow past sensing plate

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

What Material Characteristic

Changes Affect Accuracy?
9 Particle

Hardness?
YES
9 Particle shape?
YES
9 Particle size?
NO (within reasonable limits
if shape and hardness remain constant)
9 Bulk density?
NO (if hardness and shape
remain constant)
9 Moisture?
Only if hardness and flowability
are affected
Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Can These Factors be

Controlled ?
9

Velocity and angle by properly designed

flowguides and mechanical equipment
arrangement

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Can These Factors be

Controlled ?
9

Physical characteristics
Cannot be controlled by us
Compensate with linearisation

Airflow
Must be eliminated or diverted

Flow characteristics
Compensate with linearisation

Solids Flowmeters

23

Information Required:

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Material Characteristics
Material ?
9 Feedrate ?
9 Bulk Density ?
9 Temperature ?
9 Particle Size ?
9 Angle of Repose ?
9

Solids Flowmeters

24

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Flow Characteristics
Flowability ?
9 Do flow characteristics change ?
9 Does material build upon impact ?
9

Abrasiveness ?

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Other Material Properties

Hygroscopic ?
9 Corrosive ?
9 Easily Aerated ?
9 Explosive ?
9 Other ?
9 Moisture Content ?
9

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

System Requirements
9
9
9
9

Feed Rate ?
Accuracy required ?
Can material tests
be performed ?
Type of prefeed
device ?

Solids Flowmeters

9
9
9
9

Will feed be uniform ?

Feed run time ?
Will material be subject
to aeration ?
Will sensing plate be
subject to airflow ?

27

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Enviroment
Ambient temp at sensing
head/integrator
9 Operating conditions
9 Vibration
9 Rigid mounting structure
9

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Installation pictures:
Blending Application in Texas

Solids Flowmeters

29

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Cement Plant in Turkey

Solids Flowmeters

30

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Grain application at a feed lot in Kansas

Solids Flowmeters

31

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

Mobile Transition conveyors

Used throughout the USA

Solids Flowmeters

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Belt-Way Scales Inc.

The Flo-way Solids Impact Flowmeter

system is this an accurate and dependable
industrial weighing device. It was developed
to meet the needs of material producers
throughout the world.

Belt-Way Scales Inc.

One Belt Way

Rock Falls, IL 61071 USA
Phone: (815) 625-5573
Fax: (815) 625-5593
www.beltwayscales.com
Email: sales@beltwayscales.com
Solids Flowmeters

33