How Electronic Flow Sensors Help Spread Road Salt
January 11, 2019
Salt spreading trucks utilize a pre-wetting system when ice needs to be removed from roads and the temperatures are too low for direct salt spreading to be effective. The system sprays salt water onto the road salt as it is being spread to “jump-start” the melting process. The salt is then spread on the road through wetting, making the roads safer after the salting process has finished.
Challenge
Monitor the amount of pre-wet used for conservation purposes
Without using a pre-wet system, the salt may not adhere sufficiently to the surface, resulting in hazardous driving conditions. The machine requires sensors that can operate in extremely cold temperatures for it to function properly.
Solution
RFO Type Electronic Flow Sensor
This version of the RFO incorporates a fully sealed electrical cavity (back-filled with silicone) to avoid moisture intrusion. Gems Sensors had a customer who also required an NPN open-collector signal output. The current Gems design was a PNP device, so this required a quick, custom redesign of the electronics. Gems was able to achieve this for the customer while also ensuring the RFO worked in cold, harsh conditions.