Slurry Density Meter (ADM)

A non-nuclear alternative for slurry density applications—reducing cost, compliance burden, and environmental risk.

Alia’s Slurry Density Meter (ADM) delivers accurate, repeatable slurry density measurement without the cost, regulatory burden, or operational complexity of nuclear instrumentation. Designed for harsh, high‑solids processes, ADM uses an accelerometer‑based measurement principle to measure the full pipe volume—not just a point—making it well suited to abrasive, inhomogeneous slurries where other technologies struggle.

Awarded Innovation & Safety at the 2025 Mining Technology Excellence Awards

Why choose the ADM instead of a nuclear density meter?

Nuclear density meters have long been the default in abrasive slurry applications—but often at a significant operational cost.

With ADM, you avoid:

• Licensing, permitting, and regulatory oversight
• Radiation safety programs, training, and audits
• Specialized transport, storage, and disposal requirements
• Long calibration cycles and administrative overhead

ADM maintains accuracy and robustness while dramatically simplifying ownership and deployment.

” Designed for continuous process measurement, not spot checks or laboratory sampling “

How the ADM slurry density meter works

Unlike point-based or inferred measurement methods, ADM determines slurry density by measuring mass across the full pipe. It applies Newton’s Second Law (F = m·a) using a controlled electromagnetic excitation of the measuring tube.

• A known force is applied to the tube
• Accelerometers measure the resulting acceleration
• Mass is calculated from the force–acceleration relationship
• With a known tube volume, slurry density is calculated

Request an application evaluation

Key characteristics

• Suitable for homogeneous and inhomogeneous slurries
• Handles Newtonian and non-Newtonian slurries and pastes
• Largely independent of:
  • Particle size and shape
  • Abrasiveness and hardness
  • Conductivity, salinity, or clay content
  • Magnetism or radioactivity

Designed for harsh slurry service

ADM is purpose-built for real-world slurry conditions:

• High solids concentration
• Abrasive materials (sand, rock, clay, shell)
• Variable flow velocity and composition
• Large pipe diameters

Available configurations support pipe diameters from approximately 80 mm up to over 300 mm, with compact or remote electronics options.

ADM is already proven across bentonite, brine, cement, chemical slurries, drilling mud, gravel, oil sands, sand, sludge, suspensions, tailings, thickener underflow, and many others—including very large-diameter pipelines.

Accuracy and Calibration

The ADM comes factory calibrated to your site.

Calibration

• Factory wet calibration using air, water, and glycerine
• Reference density measurements traceable to ISO standards
• Field verification without complex recalibration routines

The densities of liquids used for factory calibrations are measured by a reference density meter which is calibrated according to ISO 17025 and verified using ISO 17034 liquid density standards traceable to the International System of Units.

Installation & Commissioning (optional support)

Simple, fit-and-forget installation, commissioning, and verification

• Bolt into the pipeline
• Connect power and signal wires
• Initiate offset compensation
• Measure

If desired, commissioning support is available. A trained Alia engineer can provide on-site or remote assistance for installation supervision, testing, and verification. In most cases, one day is sufficient when qualified site personnel are available. Ask us for details.