How to make a rice grains flow meter?

[garg29]

allintext: rice flow meter

Hi,
I need a big help. Actually i need to design a system which could measure flow of rice. Rice grains are flowing through a metal tube of 8-inches diameter. rice grains flow rate is in a range of 500 kgs/hr - 4000 kgs/hr. Is there any way by which i could make a sensor which could tell me this flow rate.

Thanks in advance.

Amit

 

[marie65]

Rice Grains Flow Meter

You can use a weighing scale consisting of a small metal surface inside the tube position at 45 degrees (no rice will build up on the plate) that is hit by the rice grains. It's possible to make a corellation between the flowrate and the weight measured by the scale.