Monitoring of the discharge process of bulk material in silos using electrical capacitance tomography

Abstract

Monitoring the bulk material discharge from silos using electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is an effective way to supervise dynamic flow profiles within silos. In this case, bulk materials such as wheat and corn are used. These materials are typical crops in the agricultural industry. The basic differences of these materials are shape and size. The material properties are the main factors influencing the optimal discharge processes. The ECT method is used to determine the flow profile during the discharge of each material from the silo. ECT is a non-destructive and contactless method for measuring the inner space of the silo. The results demonstrate that the monitoring of discharge processes from the silo by applying ECT is an innovative online monitoring method with a wide application.