When it comes to challenges faced by plant operators, moisture detec -tion and control is one of the most crucial steps. If there is no current method of moisture measurement in the production process, a large opportunity for increased efficiencies is being missed. ULTIMATE EFFICIENCY Do you currently have the ability to consistently measure 100 per cent of the product being produced? Installing NIR moisture sensors throughout the process makes this easily achievable. Proactive, immediate adjust -ments are easily made to ensure optimal manufacturing by line person -nel while monitoring the process anywhere in the facility. Maximizing automation and increasing reliability through reducing costs is a major significance for operating personnel and easily achieved through moisture monitoring. Moisture ranges outside of tolerance can unravel important facets of the production process. Each phase of the manufacturing process runs more efficiently with accurate moisture content and provides increasing profits. Identifying and using the best methods can lessen common prob -lems: warping, claims, checks, and excessive transportation costs. WHY NEAR-INFRARED? Multiple moisture detection methods exist for industrial processing but not all technology is created the same. Radio-Frequency (RF), weight loss, and probe methods have various factors that need to be considered as they can sometimes provide more of an educated guess than a reliable measurement that can be repeated. NIR technology is different than others as it does not require being in contact with the product at all. In fact, it is measured approximately 4 to 12 inches away from the product. Non-destructive and precise accuracy also make NIR the number one choice for moisture detection. Very simply, NIR spectroscopy and imaging provide fast, nondestructive analysis of the chemical and physical information in the product. When light hits a product, it interacts in various ways; transmitted light will pass through while backscattered light will reflect from the product back to the sensor. Absorption is key to the NIR analysis. By implementing an NIR moisture sen -sor, wood and wood fuel product manu -facturers can adjust moisture levels on re -al-time information lowering raw material NFPA68 NFPA69 NFPA77 NFPA91 NFPA499 NFPA654 NFPA664 and fuel costs, higher yields, and more uni -Allied brings 49 years experience to help you meet current NFPA Standards form products. NIR offers clear advantages with: system design/documentation, spark detection, isolation, grounding, PLC, over the traditional methods, most import -venting, blast path management, clean-up systems and duct audits — CWB ant being ease of use, elimination of hazard -certified and member SMACNA. ous chemicals, and increased efficiency of Sawmill – Biomass – Boardplants – Pulp & Paper – Power Generation – Mining product testing. • Combustible Dust Specialists Sarah Hammond is the marketing manager for MoistTech Corp. www.alliedblower.com Phone: 800-576-3611 Surrey,BC Vernon,BC WilliamsLake,BC Edmonton,Alberta PrinceAlbert,Sask Mobile, Alabama 50 years of Industrial Air Systems CFI_AlliedBlower_JanFeb24_MLD.indd 1 Canadian BIOMASS 2024-01-23 1:51 PM 27
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