Concentration Measurement via Microwaves |
The Berthold Technologies LB 566 Micro-Fluid is a continuous, on-line concentration-measuring gauge that determines the water-content or dry mass of suspensions, solutions, or pastes. It is installed directly into existing pipe systems via a stainless ‘flow cell’. All wetted parts are PTFE lined. The Micro-Fluid LB 566 is suitable for numerous applications in the food industry where the water-content of pastes, milk products or vegetable oils is an important process variable for consistent manufacturing and quality control purposes. Similarly, the Micro-Fluid LB 566 concentration monitor may be employed on a wide range of industrial processes.
Measuring Principle
Wave-guides fitted diametrically opposite to each other on the ‘flow cell’, facilitate the transmission of microwaves through a product flowing through the pipe (-see diagram). The microwaves are reduced in intensity (attenuation) as well as in propagation speed (phase shift) by the product, subject to the dielectric properties of the product. The strong dielectric characteristic of free water molecules relative to other liquids or dry matter allows a determination of the water content of the product by measuring the attenuation and/or phase shift of the microwaves. Based on this measurement principle, the micro-fluid LB 566 supplies a process signal proportional to the concentration / water-content / dry mass of the product measured.
Measuring Arrangement
The ‘flow cell’ [1] is preferably installed in a vertical pipe with upward flow direction and slight overpressure. The process connection is via flange or optionally screw neck or tri-clover fitting. The evaluation unit [2] is installed immediately adjacent to the ‘flow cell’. The HF-measuring cables [3] connect the evaluation unit and the ‘flow cell’. The HF-reference cable [4] is a loop circuit, which is used to compensate for changes, like environmental temperature changes, that may effect the signal in the measuring cable, and hence the quality of measurement.
Advantages
- Representative measurement as a result of the microwaves being transmitted through the entire cross section of the ‘flow cell’
- Reliable measurement signal due to continual software plausibility checks of process signal parameters and compensation of varying environmental temperature
- Continuous, on-line measurement
- ‘Flow cell’ available in different pipe diameters
- Low maintenance
- Uncomplicated calibration
- Trouble-free installation on existing pipelines
- No moving parts or parts protruding into the flow stream.
Application
- Butter
- Caramel
- Cream cheese
- Curd cheese
- Sour mix
- Granulates in water
- Gypsum suspension
- Lime-milk
- Silicic acid
- Synthetic solutions
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