NMI P 107

Calculations for Suitability of Load Cells

Fitted to Belt Weighers

First edition — August 1996 (Document 133)

First edition, first revision — June 2001 (renamed NSC P 107)
First edition, second revision — July 2004 (renamed NMI P 107)

Bradfield Road, Lindfield, NSW 2070

PO Box 264, Lindfield, NSW 2070

Telephone: (61 2) 8467 3600

Facsimile: (61 2) 8467 3610
Web page: http://www.measurement.gov.au
 © Commonwealth of Australia 1996

CONTENTS

1. Scope.................................................................................................................................1

2. Load Cells..........................................................................................................................1

3. Belt Weighers.....................................................................................................................1

4. Calculations........................................................................................................................1
4.1 Load Cell Capacity...................................................................................................1
4.2 Maximum Permissible Errors...................................................................................1
4.3 Temperature Effect on Minimum Load....................................................................2
1. SCOPE
This document is to be used in conjunction
with certificates of approval of belt weighers
which permit a range of approved load cells
to be used in the various installations
covered by the approval. The calculations
included in this document will be applied to
each installation to ensure that the approved
specifications of the load cells are not
exceeded for the specifications of the belt
weigher installation.
The belt weigher will have been approved to
comply with the requirements of
NMI R 50-1. Pattern Approval
Specifications for Belt Weighers.
The load cells will have been approved to
comply with the requirements of NMI R 60.
Pattern Approval Specifications for Load
Cells for Trade Weighing Instruments.
2. LOAD CELLS
The following specifications characterise the
performance of load cells in accordance with
NMI R 60. Pattern Approval Specifications
for Load Cells for Trade Weighing
Instruments:
 maximum capacity (Max(L));
 maximum number of verification scale
intervals (nmax); and
 minimum value of the verification scale
interval (vmin).
These figures are based on the required
performance for fitting the load cells to non-
automatic weighing instruments on the basis
that the load cell contributes no more than
70% of the total weighing instrument errors.
Although the maximum permissible errors
for automatic weighing instruments such as
belt weighers are different to non-automatic
weighing instruments the performance
specifications given in the load cell
recommendation can be applied to belt
weigher installations.
7/04
3. BELT WEIGHERS
Belt weigher installations are characterised
by the following specifications in accordance
with NMI R 50-1. Pattern Approval
Specifications for Belt Weighers:
• maximum capacity (of the weighing unit)
(Max(C));
• maximum flow rate (Qmax);
• minimum flow rate (Qmin);
• weigh length (of the weighing unit) (L); and
• belt speed (V).
The total maximum load on the load cells
supporting the weighing unit is made up of
the maximum capacity (live load) and the
weight of the weighing unit (dead load).
4. CALCULATIONS
The following calculations are based on
knowing the characteristics of the belt
weigher installation and from these
determining the required performance of
each load cell. If the calculated performance
is equal to, or less than, the performance of
the load cell then the load cell selected is
satisfactory for that installation.
4.1 Load Cell Capacity
Total maximum load on load cells (Wc) = Max(C)
+ dead load,
where Max(C) = Qmax L / V.
The maximum load on each load cell (WL) is
the above divided by the number of load
cells (N) and/or the lever ratio (R) if
applicable, namely WL = Wc / NR.
If WL ≤ Max(L) the load cells are
satisfactory, namely if
Max(L) ≥ (Max(C) + dead load) / NR.
4.2 Maximum Permissible Errors
The relative maximum permissible error for
belt weighers tested under simulated
conditions for influence factors (NMI R 50-1,
clause 2.2.3) are:
 ±0.18% for class 0.5;
 ±0.35% for class 1; and
 ±0.7% for class 2.
0 NMI P 107
The load cells are also tested under
simulated conditions for influence factors
and they can be considered to contribute no
more than 70% of the total belt weigher
errors specified above (NMI R 50-1,
clause 2.2.3). Therefore the maximum
permissible relative errors required for the
load cells used in belt weighers are:
 ±0.126% for class 0.5;
 ±0.245% for class 1; and
 ±0.49% for class 2.
Therefore for a class C load cell to be
satisfactory for use in a class 0.5, 1 or 2 belt
weigher, the relative error of the load cell at
the worst case load should not exceed the
above figures.
For load cells the maximum permissible error
specified in terms of the scale interval, v, in
NMI R 60 (class C) are as follows:
 ±0.35 v for 0 to 500 v;
 ±0.7 v for 501 to 2 000 v; and
 ±1.05 v for 2001 to 10 000 v.
The worst relative error will be at low load,
namely a low number of scale intervals for
the load cell (<500 v).
The limiting relative error for each class for
the load cells will occur at the following
number of scale intervals (v):
 class 0.5 v = 0.35 x 100 / 0.126 =
277 scale intervals;
 class 1 v = 0.35 x 100 / 0.245 =
143 scale intervals; and
 class 2 v = 0.35 x 100 / 0.49 =
71 scale intervals.
Considering the worst case will represent
20% flow rate of the belt weigher, the
maximum flow rate will be equivalent to:
 1 385 scale intervals for class 0.5;
 715 scale intervals for class 1; and
 355 scale intervals for class 2.
Rounding these to the next highest 500 scale
intervals in accordance with NMI R 60:
 1 500 scale intervals for class 0.5;
 1 000 scale intervals for class 1; and
 500 scale intervals for class 2.
Therefore any class C load cell with nmax
equal to, or more than, these values will be
7/04
satisfactory for use in the three classes of
belt weighers.
4.3 Temperature Effect on Minimum
Load
The value of the minimum verification scale
interval (vmin) for the load cell is determined
by the effects of a temperature change at
minimum load (also a pressure effect but this
is usually less than the temperature effect).
The maximum permissible effect is 0.7 vmin
for 5°C temperature change for class C load
cells. This is equivalent to 1.4 vmin for 10°C
change.
The corresponding requirement for belt
weigher is a maximum variation (for say
class 1) of 0.07% of the load totalised at the
maximum flow rate for the test and for 10°C
temperature change.
Therefore 0.07% of the live load on the load
cells at maximum flow rate (Max(C)) should
exceed the temperature effect on the load
cells for 10°C, namely 1.4 vmin.
The total temperature effect on the
weighframe for multiple load cells (N) or for
a lever ratio (R) if applicable is 1.4 vmin N
R, where N is used to take into account
the possible variation in vmin for each load
cell.
Also the live load on the weigh frame at
maximum flow rate = Max(C).
Therefore the load cells are satisfactory if:
 1.4 vmin N R ≤ 0.07 Max(C) / 100; or
 vmin ≤ 0.07 Max(C) / 1.4 N R 100 ≤
0.000 5 Max(C) / N R.
Similarly for class C load cells and class 0.5
and class 2 belt weighers:
 vmin ≤ 0.035 Max(C) / 1.4 N R 100 ≤
0.000 25 Max(C) / N R for class 0.5;
and
 vmin ≤ 0.14 Max(C) / 1.4 N R 100 ≤
0.001 Max(C) / N R for class 2.
1 NMI P 107