Category
Solid Flow Monitors for Powders
Confirm that powder is flowing in conveying lines and chutes, and alarm on blockage, with Auburn PM-1 monitors.
A solid flow monitor confirms that powder is actually moving in a pneumatic line, chute or feeder and alarms the moment flow stops or drops. The Auburn PM-1 and PM-1Pro use DynaCHARGE™ charge-induction sensing: moving particles create a signal at the probe, so a falling signal means a blockage. See broken bag detection for the same sensors used on filters.
2 Products · Solid Flow Monitoring Device
Selection guide
Solid Flow Monitors for Powders Guide
How a solid flow monitor works
The probe sits in the conveying line or chute wall. Particles carried past it in air or falling under gravity induce a small electrical charge, and the signal rises and falls with how much material is moving. When the line blocks, empties or a feeder stops, the signal falls away and the monitor raises an alarm, often before the blockage is visible or has backed up the process.
Choosing a solid flow monitor
- What you need to know: this is a flow or no-flow signal and a relative flow trend, not a weighing or mass-flow measurement. Where you need kg/h, pair it with a weighing or mass-flow device and use the flow monitor to catch blockages quickly between readings.
- Material: suits dry powders and granules carried in air or falling under gravity, such as cement, fly ash, coal and food or chemical powders. Tell us the material and line size and we'll confirm it's suitable.
- Alarm or trend: the PM-1 gives a straightforward flow / no-flow alarm. The PM-1Pro adds a graphic display and logging, useful where a slowly building choke needs to be caught before it becomes a full blockage.
- Response: the output can stop a feeder, sound an alarm or signal your PLC or DCS directly, so decide upstream what action the alarm should trigger.
- Hazardous dust: where the conveyed powder is combustible, choose the ATEX version.
For bag filter leak detection with the same sensors, see Broken Bag Detector. For continuous dust monitoring in ducts and stacks, see Dust Monitors.
FAQ
Common questions
Can a solid flow monitor measure flow in kg/h?
No. It gives a reliable flow / no-flow signal and a relative flow trend, not a calibrated mass reading. For kg/h you need a weighing or mass-flow device. A flow monitor is often installed alongside one, since it reacts faster to a sudden blockage than a weighing system typically does.
What materials can a solid flow monitor handle?
Dry powders and granules carried in air or falling under gravity, including cement, fly ash, coal and food or chemical powders. It works on damp or sticky material too, since it senses charge rather than relying on optical clarity or direct contact. Tell us the material and line size and we'll confirm suitability.
What happens when a conveying line blocks?
The flow signal falls away as material stops passing the probe, and the monitor's alarm output can stop the feeder, sound a local alarm or signal your PLC or DCS. Decide before ordering which of those actions you want the alarm relay to trigger.
Where are solid flow monitors typically installed?
In pneumatic conveying lines, chutes and feeders where a blockage would otherwise go unnoticed: coal and fuel feed lines to burners, powder discharge from silos, hoppers and rotary feeders, and any line where a downstream kiln, mill or packing line depends on a steady feed.
Is a solid flow monitor the same instrument as a broken bag detector?
Often, yes. The Auburn PM-1 and PM-1Pro use the same DynaCHARGE™ charge-induction sensing whether they're watching for a bag leak in clean air after a filter or watching for flow in a conveying line. What changes is where the probe is fitted and how the alarm is used.
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