The invention relates to a method for detecting a
sediment (21) in a magnetic-inductive flowmeter (1), wherein the magnetic-inductive flowmeter comprises: -- a
magnetic field-generating device (7) for generating a
magnetic field, wherein the
magnetic field has a principal axis (HA); -- a measuring tube (8) for guiding a medium, wherein the medium comprises a liquid with solids distributed therein, which solids form the
sediment, wherein a first
longitudinal plane (LE1) intersecting the measuring tube (8) intersects the principal axis perpendicularly, wherein the first
longitudinal plane (LE1) divides the measuring tube (8) into a first and second subsection (TA1, TA2); -- at least three electrodes, wherein a first
electrode (E1) of the at least three electrodes is arranged in the first subsection (TA1) such that its own longitudinal axis (LA) lies in the first
longitudinal plane (LE1), wherein a second
electrode (E2) of the at least three electrodes is arranged in the second subsection (TA2), wherein the method comprises the following steps: - Providing an
excitation signal at one of the at least three electrodes, in particular at the first
electrode (E1); - Tapping off a first measurement
signal at the first electrode (E1) against the second electrode (E2); - Providing a further
excitation signal at one of the at least three electrodes, in particular at a third electrode (E3); - Tapping off a second measurement
signal at one or the third electrode (E3) of the at least three electrodes against the second electrode (E2), wherein the third electrode (E3) is arranged in the first subsection (TA1) such that its own longitudinal axis (LA) lies in the first longitudinal plane (LE1), wherein the first and second measurement signals are independent of a flow velocity of the medium; - Determining a
sediment index taking into account the first and / or second measurement
signal.