INDUSTRY 07

Dredging Vessels

07 / DREDGING

Inline slurry density monitoring for cutter suction (CSD), trailing suction hopper (TSHD) and sand dredgers — non-nuclear ultrasonic measurement that prevents pump blockages and optimizes discharge.

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Onboard slurry density for cutter-suction, hopper & sand dredgers

Dredgers (CSD, TSHD and sand dredgers) remove sediment and pump slurry via floating pipelines to discharge zones. Slurry density — solids content in the discharge line — is the key parameter for production monitoring, pump-speed control and blockage prevention. Operators such as Royal IHC, Jan De Nul and CCCC dredging fleets rely on inline density for real-time discharge monitoring. Pisonics ultrasonic density meters measure non-intrusively, non-nuclear.

Measurement points

Process point	Principle	Model
CSD / TSHD discharge main	Ultrasonic acoustic impedance (clamp-on)	PS7000
Sand dredger discharge	Ultrasonic acoustic impedance	PS7000
Reclamation inlet manifold	Ultrasonic acoustic impedance	PS7000

Why dredging slurry is hard

Highly abrasive, variable grain size — wears out intrusive sensors; the flush PS7000 window has no protruding parts.
Large pipelines (DN500–DN1000) need non-intrusive measurement to avoid pressure drop.
Vessel motion, temperature swings and entrained air demand robust signal stability — Chirp wideband rejects bubble scatter.
Pump-blockage risk needs fast density-gradient alarms feeding the DCS for pump-speed interlock (4-20 mA / RS485 / HART).

Non-nuclear, by design

A direct substitute for Cs-137 / Co-60 dredge gauges — eliminates shipboard radiation licensing, cross-border port inspection delays and dedicated radiation-safety officers. Compare: PS7000 vs Cs-137 · PS7000 vs Rhosonics SDM ECO.

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Tell us your pipe size and dredger type for a recommendation.

Slurry density meter · PS7000

Cutter Suction Dredger · Hopper Dredger · Sand Dredging Vessel Slurry Density Online Monitoring Solution

During dredging operations, the density of the slurry discharged by cutter suction dredgers fluctuates significantly. Conventional nuclear‑based or contact‑type density meters suffer from difficulties in obtaining radiation permits, rapid wear and tear, and slow response times, leading to frequent pump blockages that are hard to predict. The PS7000 ultrasonic acoustic impedance concentration meter is installed non‑contact on the discharge pipeline, withstands erosion by coarse sand, and boasts a response time of less than one second, enabling real‑time density monitoring and early warning to prevent pump blockages.

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Industry FAQ

How do density meters on dredging vessels cope with ship vibration and salt spray?

Challenges posed by the environment of dredging vessels (cutter suction dredgers, trailing suction hopper dredgers, and sand‑suction vessels) to instrumentation:

Continuous vibration—vibration from the main engine, mud pump, and cutter ranges from 0.5 to 5 g;
Salt‑mist corrosion—seawater aerosols severely corrode the enclosures of electronic instruments;
Coarse‑sand abrasion—the slurry contains coarse sand with particle sizes ≤ 50 mm;
Cross‑border operations—nuclear‑source density meters are subject to cumbersome approval procedures for international transport licenses.

Recommended: PS7000 ultrasonic acoustic impedance concentration meter—

Flange‑mounted direct‑insertion design with a non‑contact probe, eliminating wear;
The ceramic probe withstands continuous erosion by sand and gravel, with a service life ≥ 5 years;
IP65 rating; explosion‑proof ExdⅡCT6Gb optional;
Completely non‑nuclear;
4G module optional, enabling the fleet headquarters to monitor all operating vessels in real time.

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