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Improved Density Gauge Ignores Bad Vibes
01 Feb 2006
The dredging process is often noted for the instability of equipment on board brought about by high levels of vibration. The condition can apply to electronics such as dredged material density detectors mounted directly on the dredge pipe. Damen Dredging Equipment and Thermo Electron have recently collaborated to produce a completely revised density detector with improved tolerance to vibration.
The density detector is a vital part of the modern mixture density gauge with a radioactive source, as is now present on board many dredgers. The density gauge combined with a flow meter gives essential information on the dredger's critical production rate. The density gauge has to be mounted on the dredge pipe, a position in which vibration cannot be avoided. As a consequence, the new density detector has been adapted with newly designed wiring and connections, with a simplified overall design which optimises handling possibilities.
The improvements have been made jointly by Damen Dredging Equipment and Thermo Electron, with the latter manufacturing the mixture density gauge while Damen represents it to the dredging industry. Damen has been selling and servicing Thermo Electron density gauges since 1996, a most specialised task as all service engineers must be qualified to work with radioactive sources.
The improved mixture density gauge is just one item in an extensive range of dredging instrumentation, automation and survey equipment offered by Damen Dredging Equipment.
It has been thoroughly tested on a vibration table and has proven its reliability to perform to 19.2g acceleration.
The first of the new improved density gauges has been mounted on a dredger operating in the Bay of Biscay, where notoriously harsh conditions amplify the difficulties of the dredging process.
MJ Information No: 21516
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