• Alfalfa

Alfalfa is dried like hay and pressed in this plant into 700 kg bundles. A bundle contains also flowers, leaves and dust. Therefore, it is important that this mixture in the bundles can be measured and that the moisture everywhere in the bundles is approx. between 10-15 %. A moisture content of 25% for example would present a risk of spontaneous combustion. The moisture is measured directly during the process before the loading.

Realised with MoistureScan

Video about an application of MoistureScan in Spain for alfalfa:
High quality (DSL, LAN etc.)
Low quality (ISDN, Modem)

• Pet food

A third production line was added to increase the production capacity for pet food and utilized a MoistureScan for automated moisture measurement. The extruded products are measured at the outlet of the cooler for final inspection prior to packaging. The SensorHead is flush mounted into the container wall at the interchange point of two chain conveyors. The moisture measurement is conducted continuously during the transportation of the product. Special installations are not required and the transportation is not affected. With only four different calibration curves for the entire product range, consisting of different forms, colours and prescriptions, the system guarantees the various tolerance limits of the moisture values.

Realised with MoistureScan

• Non-destructive moisture and density profile measurement in whole cigarettes.

To increase stiffness of a cigarette the density of the tobacco filling is varied at the head and at the joint between filter and tobacco during the production of cigarettes. Doescher & Doescher developed a special measuring module which measures non-destructively the full-length moisture and density profile of a cigarette. These modules are part of modular, automated measurement stations supplied by one of the leading suppliers of measurement equipment for the tobacco-processing industry.

• Density measurement after the Coffee mill

When packaging ground coffee into given packing units the bulk density of the coffee is of crucial importance.
If the bulk density is too small, then. 500 gr. would not fit into the appropriate package. The coffee powder can contaminate the welding seam of the packing which means that the package cannot be sealed or if it is then the vacuum within it does not last. These malfunctions can be prevented with the DensityGuard. Changes of the bulk density can be detected immediately and the of the mill can be adjusted without time delay. This measuring system used at a large coffee factory in Berlin is particularly interesting when starting the mill. The parameters of the mill, like gap width etc., can be supervised and be adapted faster to new conditions. The time delay due to manual grinding and measuring the bulkdensity will be avoided.

Realised with DensityGuard

• Moisture measurement for lamellae

The measurement system was integrated into a machine for wood planks. It measures the moisture of each individual massive wood plan in seconds. The exact moisture measurement after the measuring head plays a crucial part in the entire further production process. In cases of exceeding or falling below the specified limits the planks are coloured coded and segregated directly after the measuring head. Thus quality standards can be maintained with a reduction in costs due to complaints.

Application as a PDF: hardwood flooring

Realised with VenScan

Video about an application of VenScan:
High quality (DSL, LAN etc.)
Low quality (ISDN, Modem)

• Moisture measurement in the production of wood-pellets

At present the most modern and largest wood pellet factory in Wismar , Germany has been in production since the end of 2005. For controlling the process several MoistureScan Systems are used which measure the moisture of the sawdust and wood shavings at various steps of the production process. Measurement points are at the outlet of the drum dryer, the outlet screw conveyor of the mixing vessel and the distributor screw before the pellet press. The measuring instruments are mounted on the external wall of the screw or conveyer system without disturbing the product flow. Small colour fluctuations as well as the different particle size of the wood particles do not affect the measurement due to the colour and size independence of the MoistureScan technology. Thus a very exact and long-term stable measurement is ensured. The measuring instruments gather both surface and core moisture of the sawdust utilizing microwaves that penetrate the product completely.

Application as a PDF: wood pellets


Realised with MoistureScan

• Moisture measurement in a block-type thermal power station

In order to allow an automated operation of a wood gas powered, combined heat and power plant, the moisture measuring instrument has been integrated into the clamshell of the transportation robot. After the drying process the wood chips with a target value of 10% moisture, will forwarded by the clamshell to the combustor. The accuracy of the measurement and the durability of the SensorHead are the decisive factors for the implementation of a MoistureScan, which, in an automated application, has to be able to handle constant movements in x-, y- and z-direction as well as frequent pressure changes due to squeezing and emptying of the clamshell.

Realised with MoistureScan

• Moisture measurement behind the fibre dryer

High accuracy of moisture measurement after the fibre dryer is crucial for the entire further production process.
Due to the condition of the fibre (low density, glue deposit) an exact and long term stable moisture test was hardly possible until now. Through special developments, e.g. the reference resonator, it is now possible to measure directly after the dryer. There is no necessity for "fibre collecting mechanisms", as the fibre can be directly measured in the product stream. If desired, the measuring system is also available in explosion proof versions.

Realised with MoistureScan

• Moisture measurement in fibre bins
  For moisture measurement in the fibre bin, e.g. in the belt scale or in the forming bin, the measuring heads of the MoistureScan are inserted laterally into the wall of the bin. During the lateral transport of fibre, the measuring head continuously monitors its moisture content. Formation of spaces in the raw fibre is not critical for accuracy of measurements, as the procedure works independently of density.
  
  Realised with MoistureScan

• Moisture measurement at the forming belt
For process control, the MoistureScan is well qualified for the job. Due to the physical measurement principle, the water content in the cake is measured not only on the surface, but at the core as well. A falsification of the results of measurement by enviromental influences, e.g. ambient light, colour change in the product (multi colour panels!) or density variations does not take place. This makes it possible to dye the wood fibres without affecting the accuracy of measurement (see illustrations).

In order to ensure an optimal coupling between the sensor and the product, the sensor is led on a carriage across the cake. The contact pressure is minimised by the use of counterweights and the surface of the cake remains unimpaired.

Realised with MoistureScan

• Particle board manufacturing - Moisture measurement after the wood particel dryer

For accurate moisture measurement after a wood particle dryer, the MoistureScan XT was developed. The system also works at temperatures up to 140°C and low moisture levels between 1 - 5% with precise and consistent measurements. Whether directly at the dryer exit, in the gravity feed chute, or in a feeding screw or storage vessels, there are various installation possibilities. The only requirement is that the measuring head must be covered with the product.

Realised with MoistureScan XT for high temperature

• Moisture measurement after the veneer dryer

Dependent on the original position of a veneer sheet in the treetrunk, veneers exhibit different moisture content. The result is different moistures of the product before entering the dryer. A constant output of moisture content is, however, immensely important. Otherwise, there is increased probability of glue tension within plywood panels due to differing moistures in individual veneer sheets. This can lead to increased management and customer complaints.

The MoistureScan measures the water content in the veneer sheet within fractions of a second. Changes of the surface texture (knots and other defects), the colour (colouring of the wood) or the mineral material content (different salt content) have no influence on the measurement accuracy.

Over a number of measurements, which can be freely defined, the measuring system determines a sliding average value, which is passed as a similar voltage level to a following evaluation with the help of a measuring mark of approximately 10 cm diameter. With this immediate signal, the passage speed of the veneers can then be regulated by the dryer.

Realised with MoistureScan