MODIFIED THERMAL MOISTURE SENSOR FOR BULK MATERIALS

The paper reports on how to boost the accuracy and response rate of the
moisture sensor and improve functionality by monitoring the operation of the moisture sensor
in the absence of bulk material.
The above tasks are well achieved by building up the pipeline of a thermal moisture
meter of bulk materials from three sections connected through flanges, while the upper and
lower sections of the pipeline are equipped with a wide flange with double radially located
holes, and an additional temperature-sensitive element is located on the outer side of the
upstream pipeline, made in the shape of a replaceable clamp equipped with a screw and a nut and designed out of a flexible non-heat-conducting material, on the inner surface of which a
heat-sensitive winding in the form of a meander is embedded.
The authors argue that an increase in accuracy rate was observed by reducing heat
losses from the heater and boosting the functionality of a thermal moisture sensor that
automatically controls the moisture content of the bulk material and the operation of the
moisture sensor in the absence of bulk material and stalling of the ball feeder of the bulk
material during operation of the unit.