Document No:

DENSITY GAUGE
Issue Date: 14/06/21

THERMO SCIENTIFIC (DDG3) DENSITY GAUGE

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

DOCUMENT USERS JV USE ONLY

PERSON RESPONSIBLE
FOR KEEPING DOCUMENT MANAGER HEALTH, SAFETY AND
SECURITY

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 Document No:
DENSITY GAUGE
Issue Date: 14/06/21

Table of Contents
1. PURPOSE ………………………………………………………………………………. 3

2. TARGET …………………………………………………………………………...……. 3

3. DEFINITIONS ………………………………………………………………….…….…. 3

4. PREREQUISITE COMPETENCY SKILLS ……………………….…………………. 3

5. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES ………………………………………………………. 4

6. HAZARDS ………………………………………………………………………………. 4

7. PREPARATION FOR ACTIONS …………...……………………………………….... 4

7.1 Tools / Equipment / Materials ……………………………………………………. 5

7.2 Permits ……………………………………………………………………….……... 5

7.3 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) …………………………………………… 5

8. PROCEDURE …………………………………………………………………………… 5

8.1 Prepare & Physical Inspection on work area and field instrument ……………. 6

8.2 Standardization (Zero) Calibration ………………………………………………. 6

8.3 Density (Span) Calibration ……………….………………………………………. 6

9. OTHER INFORMATION ………………………………………………………………. 7

10. DOCUMENT CONTROL………………………………………………………………. 7

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 Document No:
DENSITY GAUGE
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1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to perform calibration and standardization of the high
performance density gauges (AM 870) installed within the process plant

2. TARGET

This procedure is to be performed by competent and trained Instrumentation & Control

Technicians and the Plant Metallurgists. The instrument allows accurate process control and
optimum productivity in the processing of liquids and slurries. An accurate density control of
slurry and water processes is critical to ensure high yield, low waste and improve recoveries
in the process plant.

3. DEFINITIONS

The density gauge is a Nucleonic Density Gauge that measures the density of material
transported in a pipe using an energy absorption technique. It consists of the following major
assemblies:

- the source holder

- the detector, and
- converter

4. PREREQUISITE COMPETENCY SKILLS

Procedure must document all required competency prerequisites.

 Instrumentation & Control Technician
 Harmony Competency Card

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DENSITY GAUGE
Issue Date: 14/06/21

 Mill Induction

5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Role
Technician & Metallurgist
Responsible Supervisor
Responsible Superintendent
Responsibility
Instrumentation & Control Technician and Plant
Metallurgy
Instrumentation Supervisor/Senior Metallurgist
Electrical & Instrumentation and Metallurgy
Superintendent

The Instrumentation & Control Technician is to enter the density value provided by the
Metallurgists given the three grab samples after calculations.

6. HAZARDS

The radiation source used is Caesium 137 with a half- life of 30 years and has 660KeV
energy. Radiation is the major hazard involved with this job and one can reduce radiation
exposure by the following:

- Minimize the time spent near radiation.

- Maximize the distance from radiation.
- Use of a shielding material (i.e. lead)

Apart from radiation, there are other hazards that a person performing the task can be
exposed to including:

- Breathing of Acidic or chemical Fumes

- Slurry mixture of chemical spillage
- Moving parts and equipment
- Noise

WARNING:
If the source housing is not mounted on a pipe, ensure the shutter handle is locked in the
Beam Off- Safe position. Levels in front of the source holder will exceed 600 micro sivets
per hour( at 50mm distance) if the handle is in the Beam On-Caution position t

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 Document No:
DENSITY GAUGE
Issue Date: 14/06/21

7. PREPARATION FOR ACTIONS

7.1 Tools/ Equipment/ Materials

Instrumentation and Control Technician - Basic Instrumentation tools and PVC gloves may
be needed.
Plant Metallurgist - Marcy scale, PVC gloves, rags and three sample beakers or buckets of
known volume.

Equipment:
 Site approved and calibrated gas detector
 Site approved portable two-way radio
 Site Radiation Badge
 Density Manual

7.2 Permits

This task does not require a permit as it is a Level 1 task, however, the Instrumentation and
Control Technician has to maintain a clear communication of the procedure with the Control
Room Operator to prevent any disruption to the process.

7.3 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

8. PROCEDURE

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The following steps need to be followed prior to the standardization and calibration of the
density gauge.

8.1 Prepare & Physical Inspection on work area and field instrument

 Ensure work area is safe to commence job

 Check physical condition of the radiation source and detector
 Ensure Radiation source
 Ensure to have all devices intact for the work
 Ensure radiation source is ON position (de-isolated)
 Ensure radiation personal monitors are in good condition and calibrated.
 Prepare calibration sheet.

8.2 Standardization (Zero) Calibration

For this calibration, process water must be pump through the pipe and flow must be at a
constant rate before attempting to do standardization.

 Press Keypad [4] to enter Standardization Mode Ensure to have all devices intact for
the work

The ‘DaysSinceStd’ will appear on the screen which is the Elapsed time in days since
the last Standardization. Record the number down on a sheet as reference.

 Press [NEXT] on the Keypad to show the ‘Source’. Radiation Source type is CS 137.
 Press [NEXT] on the keypad to show the ‘Cr Std’. This is the standard count rate for
 liquid density = 1. Record the standard count rate down on a sheet as reference.
 Press [NEXT] on the Keypad to show the ‘Dens Std’. This is the standard Density for
the last standardization which is always 1 for Liquid Density.
 Press [NEXT] on the Keypad to show ‘Std time’. This is the standardization Time
and is normally set at 60 seconds.
 Press [NEXT] on the keypad to show ‘Meas new STD cr?’. This will prompt the user
to Measure the new count rate .i.e. to do the Standardization.

Press [ENTER] on the keypad to run the Standardization process. This will take about 60
seconds to complete

 If the results for the Standardization are acceptable the gauge will prompt for the
‘Standard density’ to be entered. Standard density for liquid (water) is 1.
 Enter this value and press [ENTER]. The gauge will display “Done?”.
 Press [ENTER] on the keypad to accept the new standard count rate and density.

• Repeat the steps 3 or 4 times to achieve a good standard count rate and density results

8.3 Density (Span) Calibration

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 Document No:
DENSITY GAUGE
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For this calibration, slurry must be pump through the pipe at a constant flow rate before
attempting to do calibration.

 Press keypad [2] to enter the Calibration Mode.

 The ‘Pipe I.D’ will appear on the screen which is the internal diameter of the pipe
containing the slurry. Record the value down on a sheet for reference.
 Press [NEXT] on the keypad to show ‘SL const’. This is the slurry constant and
default is set at 0.072.
 Press [NEXT] on the keypad to show ‘Cal time’. This is the calibration time and is set
at 100 seconds.
 Press [NEXT] on the keypad will prompt ‘Do calibration’. This will prompt the user to
do the calibration.
 Press [ENTER] on the keypad run the calibration process.

Upon completion the user is prompted to enter the sample density. This value is supplied by
the Plant Metallurgist after doing manual density calibration.

 Enter the value and press [ENTER] on the keypad to accept the sample density. A
‘SL const’ value will be displayed.
 Press [ENTER] on the keypad to accept this value.
 Press [ENTER] on the keypad if you wish to do calibration again and/or press [EXIT]
to accept calibration.

Repeat the steps 3 or 4 times to achieve a good density result.

9. OTHER INFORMATION

Referred documents provide additional guidance to the intent of the document and access to
further material used in the development of the Procedure.

 Related MMJV Standards / Guidelines

 MMJV Standard Work Procedures (SWPs) and Standard Work Instructions (SWIs)

 Job Safety and Environment Analysis (JSEAs)

10. DOCUMENT CONTROL

Rev Prepared By Reviewed by Approved By Date Description

1 Jenny Yopo George Terry Adrian Kelly 14/06/2021 Rev 2

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DENSITY GAUGE
Issue Date: 14/06/21

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