PSC will be closed the week of the 27th – 31st.
Hope everyone has a great New Year!
Happy Holidays!
December 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Measuring Moisture in Process Industries
July 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Process Sensors has become the leading manufacturer of on-line NIR moisture meters. Moisture analysis is critical throughout many stages in the processing industry. Manufacturers are constantly adjusting moisture to maintain the quality of their product. If the product is too wet or too dry, the quality of the product can create problems later in the manufacturing process.
Moisture analysis is used for a variety of applications such as, moisture in tobacco, moisture in food, moisture in snack food, moisture in paper and moisture in particleboard.
Moisture in Snack Food
The continuous measurement of moisture prior to packaging is a key consideration in the production of snack foods. The proper moisture content helps guarantee taste, texture and shelf life.
The use of NIR (Near Infrared Reflection) moisture meters in snack food manufacturing environments has become an accepted technology for monitoring and control. The on-line measurements are instantaneous and non-contact. Any change in moisture level can be immediately recognized by the use of a process controller, eliminating the potential for customer quality complaints or waste.
Moisture in Particle Board
The proper moisture level of particleboard guarantees safety and high product quality.
During the drying phase, the moisture content is reduced from a high of 75% to less than 10% moisture. The dried material is then graded and separated into core and surface product. The products pass through different blenders as a function of their different requirements for resin. After the blender, the furnish is formed then pressed into boards.
Paper Converting Process
Continuously monitoring the level of moisture in paper is important. The proper moisture level can have a large impact on the curl properties of the paper. By installing the MCT Moisture Meter in line, a converter can continuously monitor the moisture level and manually or automatically control the moisture content across the paper web.
Tobacco
Moisture percentage is critical throughout the whole tobacco manufacturing process, from green leaf threshing to primary processing. Moisture affects not only smoking quality, but also storage properties, filling properties, tobacco waste and machine ability.
Process Sensors MCT Series moisture meters, employ true Smart Sensor Technology (SST?), next generation optics and stable electronics, to meet the increasingly stringent quality controls required by today’s manufacturing industries, and to provide innovative process control solutions for maximum on-line manufacturing productivity, cost efficiency and profitability. PSC?s moisture meters have all field-replaceable components and come with a comprehensive 2-Year Warranty.
Moisture Measurement and Control For Wood Pellet Manufacturing
July 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Process Sensors NIR Moisture Meters can provide valuable information needed to control the production process. The result is consistent product produced at minimum cost and down time.
Moisture measurement is a major consideration throughout the pellet manufacturing process. Below ware some of the locations where our customers have used our meters.
1. PSC can measure the green product prior to the dryer. The main advantage is to aid the loader operator in balancing the input moisture load to the dryer. Green product is generally stored outside where it is subject to the environment, some is wet and some is dry. Large amounts of wet material can overload the dryer and moist sawdust is the result. The loader operator needs a large readout at the input hopper so he/she can properly select wet or dry material to balance the input moisture.
2. Measuring the output of the dryer provides quality control on the dryer output and allows the product to be binned by moisture content.
3. Measure the output of individual bins for accurate blending.
4. Most important is the moisture in the blended product as it enters the pellet press. It must be within a tight moisture range to produce an acceptable pellet. The instantaneous reading are very helpful to the Press Operator. The 4-20 mA output can be sent to a PLC which in turn can control the Pellet Press drive parameters in real time.
5. Laboratory or off line measurements can be made in 10 seconds with the MCT660.
6. Some mills use Hog Fuel for the boiler feed, our MCT360 offers good trend moisture measurements on the incoming Hog Fuel. The advantage is improved boiler control.
PSC-CS Laser
June 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
STAND ALONE, IR THERMOMETER?S DUAL LASERS, MAKE FOCUSING AND TARGET SIZE DETERMINATION EASY.
Knowing the precise point or area of a target to be monitored when using infrared thermometers for temperature measurement is critical to measurement accuracy. Process Sensors? newly released model PSC-CS-Laser thermometer series eliminates guesswork by using two, built-in, bright red lasers.
At the focus distance, the laser beams converge to form a single spot on the target. At distances other than the focus length, individual laser spots delineate the measured target size diameter. The model PSC-CS-Laser series are self contained pyrometers constructed from rugged stainless steel that can be configured for 2 wire loop powered or 4 wire operation when utilizing dual lasers for targeting.
The high accuracy infrared temperature sensor can operate in ambient temperatures up to 185?F (85?C) without the need for cooling, offers fast speed of response and high resolution optics with selectable fixed focus distances for small target sizes from 0.020? (0.5mm) in diameter. The rugged stainless steel housing with companion heavy duty cooling jacket with air purge, stands up to the most severe industrial environments.
Spectral responses of 8 to 14? with a temperature range of -50 to 975?C, or 1.6? with a temperature range of 385 to 1600?C, suit the loop powered, compact sensors to a wide range of applications such as induction heating, metal processing, semiconductors, paper, plastics, webs, ovens, furnaces, glass, ceramics, thermoforming, food, powders, liquids, hot material /aggregate on conveyors etc. Outputs are analog 4 to 20mA, 0-30V open collector, used for alarm and digital uni/bidirectional, 9.6kBaud, communication.
Measurement parameters such as emissivity can be set manually on the IR sensor, or via PSC Connect software with optional USB connector. The software also facilitates the set-up of peak, valley and averaging functions, graphic display of temperature trends, and data logging with a 1ms response time.
Detailed specification information is posted at www.processsensorsIR.com.
Process Sensors is a private company with a manufacturing facility located in Milford, MA, USA. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of non-contact temperature and moisture measurement instruments, and the associated calibration systems. The Company provides technical and application support worldwide through direct, regional and sales representative offices.
HIGH SPEED IR THERMOMETER BREAKS MILLISECOND RESPONSE BARRIER
June 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The response speed of the fastest infrared thermometers until now has been limited to the millisecond domain. Process Sensors newly released, self contained, Metis HS09/HI16 non-contact infrared temperature sensor captures 20,000 measurements per second with an unprecedented 50 microsecond response.
With a temperature span of 250?C to 2500?C, over three models, the HS/HI Series opens up applications in high speed ferrous and non-ferrous metals processing, ceramics, semiconductor and in research environments where short duration phenomena such as explosions must be monitored. Target spot sizes of 0.35mm to 4000mm dia. are offered over the same three models, using standard, focusable optics; or 0.5mm to 40mm with focusable lens fiber optics.
Other notable features include laser aiming and through lens sighting, and an integral black and white video camera for monitoring the target area in hazardous or hard to access locations. A peak picker function can be set up to detect and hold the highest measurement in applications where the target is intermittently obscured by steam, dust or surface scale.
Switchable, analog 0 to 20mA /4 to 20mA outputs connect with process control or data acquisition equipment. A fast, digital, RS485, 921 kBd maximum communications interface is also included. IR Thermometer parameters can be set up using Process Sensors free PSCWin software. The software also facilitates the recording of data in graphical, text or tabular format.
Detailed specification information can be found at www.processsensorsir.com
Process Sensors is a private company with a manufacturing facility located in Milford, MA, USA. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of non-contact temperature and moisture measurement instruments, and the associated calibration systems. Technical and application support is provided worldwide through direct, regional and sales representative offices.
Moisture Measurement in Particleboard
April 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The continuous measurement of moisture is a key consideration in the production of particleboard. The proper moisture level of particleboard guarantees safety and high product quality.
Particleboard Production Process
Raw materials are passed through chippers, flakers and size reduction mills to create a relatively uniform particle size. The mix passes through screeners which remove fines, before they enter the dryer. During the drying phase, the moisture content is reduced from a high of 75% to less than 10% moisture. The dried material is then graded and separated into core and surface product. The products pass through different blenders as a function of their different requirements for resin. After the blender, the furnish is formed then pressed into boards.
Measurement Location and Installation
Measurements can be made at five different location; on the raw material, pre-dryer, post dryer, post blender and on the former. The sensor can be positioned to look through a viewing window at a 15? angle in the side of a storage bin of gravity chute. The sensor can also be positioned over a conveyor/weigh belt, or on the side of a formed mat. Whatever the location the moisture sensor should be mounted approximately 200cm from the product. The most common location for a moisture sensor is over the forming line.
