The computer-controlled Ring Shear Tester RST-01.pc ...

... is a device for measuring the flow properties of powders and bulk solids.

It can be used for:

• Determination of the flowability, e.g. for quality control, process optimization, or comparative tests.
• Measurement of the flow properties (bulk strength, internal friction, bulk density, compressibility, etc.).
• Attrition tests.

Advantages and highlights of the ring shear tester RST-01.pc:

• The computer-controlled ring shear tester RST-01.pc is easier to operate than the still easy-to-operate (manual) version RST-01.01. Therewith, an automized version of a real shear tester is presented. Shear testers are the standard measurement devices in bulk solids science & technology since more than 30 years.
• Easy operation, no manual preconsolidation of the bulk solid sample.
• Simplified operation of the tester and evaluation of the test results by using specially suited computer software.
• Simplified, time-saving procedure for qualitative tests (flowability, comparative measurements).
• Variable stress level: The flow properties are measured at the same stress level which is relevant for the application of the results.
• Measurement of time consolidation (important if bulk solids tend to consolidate if they are stored at rest for a certain time interval).
• Measurement of the wall friction angle (wall yield locus).
• Various shear cell geometries (adjustment with respect to stress level and sample volume).
• Appropriate device for measuring the flow properties of bulk solids which are hardly to test with other testers, e.g. very elastic products (plastics powder, saw meal) and very cohesive, moist or extremely fine-grained products (e.g. sludge, moist clay, carbon black).

Technical Data

• Electric input: 24 V DC, 2 A.
• Measuring system for normal and shear force: load beams with strain gauges.
• Measuring system for the sample height: inductive displacement transducer.
• Internal amplifiers, A/D- and D/A-converters, serial communication module for communication with a PC via its serial communication port (RS-232; COM1 or COM2).
• Normal force: Standard: max. 45 kg (ca. 450 N), i.e. a normal stress of approx. 20 kPa in the standard shear cell type M, approx. 50 kPa in the smaller cell type S.
• Shear cell (dimensions of sample volume): Standard: inner diameter 100 mm, outer diameter 200 mm, height 40 mm (sample volume ca. 900 ccm).
  Smaller shear cells: see here.
• Shear velocity: ca. 0.05 - 30 mm/min (at diameter 150 mm).
• Dimensions of the tester (ca.): width 1040 mm, height 1300 mm, front-to-back-size 410 mm.
• Weight: ca. 120 kg.
• Colours: casing (walls) in night-blue, struts and most other parts silver (aluminum and stainless steel).

Literatur/Literature (for more literature see here)

Ring shear tester (computer-controlled):

• Schulze, D.: Measurement of Flow Properties of Particulate Solids in Food and Pharmaceutical Technology Using a New Automated Ring Shear Tester, Preprints PARTEC 98, 10.-12. March 1998, pp.276-285 (in English)
• Schulze, D., Heinrici, H., Zetzener, H.: The Ring Shear Tester as a Valuable Tool for Silo Design and Powder Characterization, Powder Handling & Processing 13 (2001) 1, pp. 19-24 (in English)

Ring shear tester (manually operated):

• Schulze, D.: Aufbereitungstechnik 35 (1994) 10, pp. 525-535 (in German and English)
• Schulze, D.: Preprints First Int. Part. Technol. Forum, August 17-19, 1994, Denver, USA, Preprints Part III, pp. 11-16 (in English)
• Schulze, D.: Powder Handling & Processing 8 (1996) 3, pp. 221-226 (in English)
• Behres, M., Clasen, C.-J., Schulze, D.: Development of a Shear Cell for Measuring the Wall Friction of Bulk Solids with a Ring Shear Tester, Powder Handling & Processing 10 (1998) 4, pp. 406-409 (in English)

Flow properties testing:

• Schulze, D.: Powder and Bulk Engineering 10 (1996) 4, pp. 45-61 (Part I), and 10 (1996) 6, pp. 17-28 (Part II) (in English)
• Schulze, D.: Chemie-Ingenieur-Technik 67 (1995) 1, pp. 60-68 (in German)
• Schwedes, J.; Schulze, D.: Powder Technol. 61 (1990) 59, pp. 59-68 (in English)