The Spektron from Spektron Biomass can be used to measure moisture in different kind of biomass materials, provided samples of the materials are included in the calibration of the instrument. different kinds of biomass materials, pro-vided samples of the materials (feedstock or finished products) are included in the calibration of the instrument. Calibration should be done every 6 to 12 months, or as changes occur with materials or the process environment. “The Spektron can also be installed directly above a convey-or belt to analyze moisture in real time,” says company representative Mari-Ann Akerjord. “This makes it possible to mea-sure a complete container of biomass material in real time. The accuracy of single measurements is the same, but the average of a complete container will, of course, be better with an online solution. Which solution is best depends on how the processes are organized.” The company also offers software, and can integrate the Spektron to any plant’s computer so that results are integrated automatically. “The system includes on-line production support and reporting from single sample, up to plant and enter-prise level,” says Akerjord. “We work in close co-ordination with the production managers to give the best possible and useful results to optimize the processes.” If installed in multiple plants, the devices are connected to a common server and the calibration is upgraded remotely with inputs from all other units, with all units sharing the same calibration. The IR-3000 is MoistTech’s newest on-line moisture-measuring instrument, de-veloped for instant, non-contact analysis in the harshest environments. Company Pres-ident Adrian Fordham says it is insensitive to material variations such as particle size, material height and colour, and provides continuous, reliable readings without drift or frequent re-calibration. “With hundreds of measurements per second, plant control-lers can monitor incoming material with precise accuracy,” Fordham notes. Drying Technology’s Delta T MC Sens-ing and Control System solves the three main problems with moisture meter systems by including an exclusive “in-side-the-dryer” sensor that detects evap-orative load changes before they exit the dryer, and makes heat adjustments. The system measures the amount of addition-al water to be evaporated, and uses an exclusive method for re-calculating the process variable setpoint needed to main-tain the target moisture content. “When these three solutions are com-bined…the product moisture content vari-ation exiting the dryer is reduced 30 per cent for a single dryer and approaches 51 per cent when two dryers are in series, or two zones of a multi-zoned dryer are con-trolled individually,” says Drying Technol-ogy President John Robinson. “The Delta T eliminates the need to pre-mix incoming biomass, and then makes moisture con-tent determination of the mixture for use in setting the dryer operating conditions.” Robinson says this system also eliminates over-drying and having to add moisture back in (to achieve the desired moisture content for pelletizing for example), and allows production to be increased by add-ing more feed to bring the hot air tempera-ture back to the maximum limit. • Canadian BIOMASS 25
Canadian Biomass November - December 2014: Page 25
