Sampling from Stationary Bulk Material
Trucks, Railcars and Barges: Sampling Using a Drill Sampler
Where samples are to be taken from stationary bulk material using the drilling principle, our drill sampler is the ideal solution.
The sampling device essentially consists of a drill screw rotating inside a casing tube. It can, for example, be installed as a portal at the entrance to a material storage area or in front of the plant’s own weighbridge. Delivery trucks are required to pass through the weighbridge before unloading, providing an opportunity to take samples either before or after weighing.
To comply with DIN 51701 for solid fuels and the requirements applicable to mechanical sampling equipment, the drill sampler is equipped with a self-cleaning mechanism. After each sampling operation, the flights of the screw are cleaned by means of a scraper.
During sampling, the scraper exerts no compressive force on the sample material conveyed into the screw flights. This prevents the scraper from causing particle size reduction or moisture loss.
When sampling trucks, a single sampling operation takes approximately 40 seconds, depending on the bulk material depth and the diameter of the sampler.
The equipment can also be used for sampling at an angle of up to approximately 30° ±, for example from railcars or barges. In these applications, the equipment is fitted with an additional slewing drive that moves the drill screw into the specified angle before sampling and returns it to its original position afterwards. In such cases, the sampling time increases to approximately 60 seconds.
After the sample has been taken, it can either be transferred to the sample preparation process or collected for subsequent analysis, depending on the customer’s requirements.
The full report is available in Issue 2/2023 of Schüttgut & Prozess.
