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1 Functional Description
1.1 The patented TRIME® TDR-Measuring Method
The TDR technology (
T
ime-
D
omain-
R
eflectometry) is a radar-based dielectric measuring procedure at which the
transit times of electromagnetic pulses for the measurement of dielectric constants, respectively the moisture
content are determined.
TRIME-GW Line consists of the measurement transformer TRIME-GW casing and the 1-rod-probe head. An
integrated TRIME TDR measuring transducer of IMKO´s SONO-series is installed into the TRIME-GW Line casing.
A high frequency TDR pulse (1GHz), passes along wave guides and generates an electro-magnetic field around
these guides and herewith also in the material surrounding the probe. Using a patented measuring method, the
transit time of this pulse is determined with a resolution of <1 picosecond (1x10-12). Due to this high resolution
the moisture and the conductivity of the material is measured with a high precission.
The established moisture content, as well as the conductivity, respectively the temperature, can either be uploaded
directly into a PLC via two analogue outputs 0(4) ...20 mA or recalled via a serial RS485 interface.
1.2 TRIME® compared to other Measuring Methods
In contrary to conventional capacitive or microwave measuring methods, the TRIME® technology (
T
ime-
D
omain-
R
eflectometry with Intelligent Micromodule Elements) offers precise measurement results which means more
reliability at the production.
TRIME-TDR technology operates in the ideal frequency range between 600MHz and 1,2 GHz
. Capacitive
measuring methods (also referred to as Frequency-Domain-Technology) , depending on the device, operate within
a frequency range between 5MHz and 40MHz and are therefore prone to interference due to disturbance such
as the temperature and the mineral contents of the measured material. Microwave measuring systems operate
with high frequencies >2GHz. At these frequencies, nonlinearities are generated which require very complex
compensation. For this reason, microwave measuring methods are more sensitive in regard to temperature
variation.
The modular TRIME technology enables a manifold of special applications without much effort due to the fact that
it can be variably adjusted to many applications.
1.3 Areas of Application with TRIME-GW Line and the 1-Rod Probe
The TRIME-GW Line with the 1-rod probe is suited for measuring in different materials directly inside a silo. The
1-rod probe requires a good flowability of the measured material in order to ensure that the material lies close to
the rods when the material is flowing.
The temperature of the measured material should not be higher than 60°C.
