The CentriFlow Meter from Eastern Instruments is a Solid Particle Mass Flow Meter that is durable, accurate, maintenance-free, compact, and cost-effective. It is unique and positioned to replace weigh belts, impact meters, loss in weight meters, and static weigh scales, anywhere that accuracy, low maintenance, and zero drift are paramount.
Please see below for additional information regarding the various options that are offered for our CentriFlow family of meters. If you do not see an option that suits your particular application, don't worry. We have an engineering team that is ready to assist you with a custom solution for your application, so contact us and we will be happy to assist.
ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION: Feed Pellet Coating
PROCESS PREDICAMENTS
A customer needed to accurately measure the mass flow rate of animal feed pellets from an extruder to apply the correct ratio of liquid nutrients. The animal feed was to discharge from an extruder, into a screw conveyor, through a mass flow measurement system, and then proceed to the mixing screw conveyor where the nutrients were to be applied. They needed the meter to be able to output an instantaneous, accurate signal that could be used to control the nutrient injection system. It was also critical to have a compact mass flow measurement system due to space constraints. The average density of the dry, pet food meal was 40 lb/ft3 (641 kg/m3) with a maximum flow rate of 22,000 lb/hr and a minimum flow rate of 6,600 lb/hr. This meant that the flow meter needed to be capable of handling and accurately measuring a volumetric capacity from 165-550 ft3/hr. Besides providing an output to a controller, the meter needed to have a local display that would indicate flow rate, total throughput per shift, and the total throughput per week.
EASTERN INSTRUMENTS SOLUTION
The customer installed a CentriFlow 12" Type II Meter. The meter was installed between the screw conveyor and the screw mixer, where liquid nutrients were added to the feed pellets. The Type II configuration took up less than 35" of vertical space in this application, thus satisfying the customer's concerns for space constraints. A Ratemeter/Totalizer was also used to display the flow rate and to totalize the flow through the meter per shift. A second totalizer function was used to totalize the weekly throughput. The Ratemeter/Totalizer provided an averaged analog 4-20mA output signal, proportional to the flow rate, which was then sent to a PLC. The PLC was linked to a control valve for the nutrient mixture, thus allowing electronic control of the nutrients' flow into the mixer.
CONCLUSIONS
Once the CentriFlow Meter was installed, the unit was calibrated, and the liquid application system became operational. The customer was very happy with the system as it provided a reliable and accurate pellet to liquid nutrient ratio. The customer had used radar technology and weigh-belts in the past but is pleased with using the CentriFlow Meter due to the ease of calibration, higher accuracy, and because its signal output does not drift.
MATERIAL TEST REPORTS: Animal Feed
The Animal Feed Industry offers a variety of potential applications for the CentriFlow Meter including measuring the individual ingredients for manufacturing animal feed, or even measuring the flow of the finished pellet or crumble during the coating process to ensure a proper and even coating.
