From the trials undertaken on the Sand Falcon, we were very happy with the results, which compare favourably with traditional radioactive density meters. “We were therefore a willing partner in developing non-nuclear density measurement technology.

The CombiMeter has undergone a series of extensive field tests in the Damen Dredging test loop, in the ¡VAMOS! mining project and lastly as a full-scale test on the CEMEX aggregate dredger Sand Falcon in a Ø700 mm pipeline. Both are combined in an integrated production meter the CombiMeter. Added to this is a density meter based on electrical resistance tomography, as developed by ITS (Industrial Tomography Systems). This is a proven concept in the dredging industry. For the flow meter, an electromagnetic flow meter by Krohne Altometer is used. The CombiMeter consists of a flow meter and a density meter. As a result, the new CombiMeter is available for all new dredgers and retrofits.

For several decades this measurement had to be done using a nuclear density meter, but now Damen has put a new technique to the test on an aggregate dredger, and it has passed with flying colours. That is, continuously checking the throughput in the dredge pipe. Onboard dredgers, continuous control of the dredging efficiency is of vital importance.

Dredged up meaning