Control Moisture Content Variables for Product Consistency in Granular Products
Moisture measurement and control of granular materials are key performance indicators for manufacturers who require product consistency in their process. This material typically has a moderate level of moisture variability, which can impede product uniformity without the help of online moisture control.
Efficiency Reduces Waste and Assures Quality
Without online moisture control, plant operations staff typically relies on interval lab testing. An operator collects samples intermittently during the production process, then analyzes the product’s moisture content using the loss-on-drying (LOD) method or other time-consuming testing procedure. Meanwhile, the production line continues. Minutes to hours later, the operator receives the moisture content lab report. Depending on the results, the operator manually adjusts either conveying speed or dryer temperature to ensure the correct moisture range for the subsequent products.
This inefficient moisture measurement approach results in a production gap and consequently, a batch of unsatisfactory products. The fallout is product waste, which negatively impacts revenue.
A Measurement Solution To Improve Process
A Sensortech Systems moisture analyzer provides accurate, real-time, in-process moisture measurement. This ongoing monitoring enables forward-thinking and determination of optimum drying process conditions. The sensor continuously transmits moisture measurements to your control system and PC platform enabling you to determine, in real-time, when your batch reaches the perfect moisture level. The sensor employs near-infrared reflectance (NIR) technology, which is non-contact and non-destructive so your process is never impeded and your product is never compromised
Real-Time Moisture Measurement
Fortunately, the NIR-6000 Industrial-Grade Moisture Analyzer automates the process without the need for laboratory testing. Receiving real-time moisture data presents an opportunity to make changes to the process as it is needed and to maintain product uniformity concurrent with product flow. Sensortech Systems provides the operator the ability to immediately observe fluctuations in the moisture content of granular products and to make the appropriate adjustments to the process; providing effective process control, increasing product consistency and reducing product waste.
Trending Moisture Data
Due to the nature of granular material, high variability in moisture content could be a rigid characteristic of the process. The NIR-6000 Moisture Analyzer may produce data that spotlights large fluctuations in the moisture composition of the granular product. In some cases, the variability will be so great that it may be necessary to influence the measurement of the online instrument with a certain degree of damping or a moving average to obtain useful trending data that can be interpreted and acted upon. The purchase of an NIR-6000 Moisture Analyzer includes a Configuration Software Package that provides the operator or engineer the ability to apply moving averages to the raw data of the analyzer and to log data for further analysis.
Moisture Measurement Technologies
Sensortech’s strength is its experience. We recognize that all granular materials are not created equal. The NIR-6000 Series Moisture analyzer may be an ideal solution for one product but not another. Sometimes, because of the nature of the product being measured, it is necessary to add further sensitivity to the IR measurement and through our experience we have developed the NIR-6700 High Sensitivity Series for these applications. Other times, however, IR technology is not suitable for the product being measured all together and an entirely new approach is required. For these applications Sensortech has developed the ST-3300 Series Moisture Sensors. Knowing the proper moisture measurement technology for the type