The genesis of a new metering era
AshCheck is a unique measuring instrument to precisely detect the ash content in natural coal. With tremendous accuracy, Ash Check probe measures the ash contamination of stone coal directly at the mining location, on a truck or train wagon. The simple menu structure of the readout enables even an inexperienced user to conduct precise measurement results anywhere and at any time.
Since the year 2020, a 2-piece solution is available, were sensor and readout is separated and connected via a rugged cable connection.
The self-contained ash meter is manufactured with state-of-the-art digital technology. The measuring probe contains digital analysis electronics to reduce any cable or information losses to literally zero. This leads to increased sensitivity, which allows measuring a larger coal bulk at the same time. Furthermore, it increases the absolute precision of the average ash content and leads to fewer measuring points in a coal pile.
In close cooperation with customer demands, we have created an easy and understandable user interface with simple “one-touch” control and vast abilities for configuration and data acquisition. Each measurement process gains an automatic numeration, but also can be easily renamed. The readout of AshCheck is built with most modern electronics and display components and offers a memory storage space of more than 4,000 piles, with more than 100 measuring points per pile.
The detection sensor is based on natural gamma radiation, without any artificial radiation or a radiative source. It is equipped with shock absorbers all around and even withstands drops or falls as well as axial shocks without defect of the sensor tube. Any accidental downtime is reduced to a minimum. At the same time, the IP65 construction is water- and dust-sealed. The stainless steel hull of the sensor is resistant against pressure, dirt, dust, water and almost all other influences in coal mines. The internal parts are easily interchangeable.
After the calibration of the ash content with the coefficient determined at a coal lab, the accuracy of each measurement can be less than 0.5% of the absolute value of the ash determination. The increased sensibility and the higher measuring coal mass results in a calculative accuracy error of less than 0.2% of the measured volume. For fast measurement procedures, usually 1% accuracy can be achieved after a few seconds measuring time.
Once the measurement is completed, the results can be stored with a unique numeration or pile name in the internal memory, after which the instrument is immediately ready for the next measurement.
When we started our first drawings for a new ash detection probe, we began from scratch. We knew that there were already ash meters on the market for decades, but we were also aware that there were many problems involved with their handling, technology and reliability. Customers and partners reported many significant failures and expensive repairs and demanded something better, something reliable with a long lifetime and less downtime. This was our source of inspiration, based upon a fast spin of ideas, and we quickly had a vision of what we wanted to accomplish: it had to be something fresh and unique, rugged, stable, enhanced and affordable. A Swiss army knife, so to speak.
Accordingly, we started with the first design and many months of tests in the lab and field. Within the development period of more than 18 months, things did not always proceed so smoothly. Nonetheless, we were finally holding our AshCheck device in our hands, which was as fresh and rugged than anything seen before. It is now available for the world of black energy – the coal business!
Once you decided to purchase AshCheck for your daily business, we are here to support you. Besides the usual manual, we provide tutorial videos to make your learning easy and fast. Our support team can help you on the phone in different languages: German, English and Russian. If you need training on site, our engineers are happy to assist at your place.
The AshCheck product line has been extended for a 2-piece solution, the "AshCheck SE", where the readout is separated from the sensor needle, and connected via a very rugged cable link. Due to the internal electronics layout, this cable can be up to 10m long. The AshCheck SE is very useful in harsh environments, where the operator cannot stand on the coal pile during the measuring process.
User adjustable interface and layout
Bright and clearly readable text skin with large font and clean interface.
Text interface with inverted background and text, good for darker ambients.
Graphical user interface for the challenging user, in modern icon style.
After data acquisition on site is finished, all aquired data can easily be transferred to a USB stick. The file format is compatible to MS Office, OpenOffice, LibreOffice, and most other office formats, and can be further included into graphics, comparisons or any other file
For any purchase of AshCheck, we ship this extremely versatile instrument in a specially designed, precise and rugged wooden flight case, fitted with aluminum edges and butterfly steel fasteners. Ash Check probe is embedded on shock absorbing foam, thus withstanding drops or falls from more than 2m height.
AshCheck probe can be shipped worldwide, either from europe or russian bases.