Non-destructive, quantitative online measurement of residual moisture in materials
The SOMOS® Plastic Analyser for continuous, quantitative determination of residual moisture in free-flowing plastics is a new addition to the MANN+HUMMEL ProTec portfolio in the area of efficient material drying systems.
Bensheim, March 2010 – The SOMOS® Plastic Analyser is a sensor that quantitatively and non-destructively records the residual moisture content of free-flowing plastics down to 10 ppm (0.001 %) and with a resolution of 1 ppm. It can be used intermittently, such as to check incoming goods, or also continuously to monitor ongoing production. Ideally, the sensor is then installed directly after the drying hopper. With a measurement volume of around one litre and up to five measurements per second, even very large material throughputs can be monitored without interruption. The system detects and automatically corrects influences on the reading from fluctuations in the bulk density. Suitable for material temperatures up to 200°C, the SOMOS® Plastic Analyser can be retrofitted to any drying system. It is maintenance-free and only needs periodic calibration (usually annually).
Material-specific parameters that have to be taken into account when drying hygroscopic plastics, such as the drying temperature, minimum dwell time in the drying process and the quantity of dry air needed, can basically be managed nowadays with the control parameters on current drying systems. However, there is still uncertainty on how to safely and continuously comply with the maximum permitted residual moisture content for an application used when planning a drying system project. Fluctuations in the properties of materials worked on during production cannot be ruled out.
These uncertainties can now be a thing of the past with the new SOMOS® Plastic Analyser. The quantitative measured values detected online with the analyser can also be fully recorded in process documentation, giving the processor the necessary peace of mind in respect of traceability, particularly when producing safety-related products.
SOMOS® Plastic Analyser – Material drying with “safety lights”
The SOMOS® Plastic Analyser's sensor detects the electrophysical properties of plastics in an alternating electrical field between capacitor plates and derives quantitative information on the level of moisture in the plastic. As plastics behave differently in an alternating electrical field depending on the specific material used, the sensor has to be calibrated to the respective material. The microprocessor included in every SOMOS® Plastic Analyser already contains calibration data for the most common technical plastics. It can be accessed with an external setting device and thereby initialised for the respective processing task in each case. MANN+HUMMEL ProTec would be pleased to undertake this for new materials as a service if requested, even at the user's premises.
The sensor’s microprocessor comes with three LEDs in traffic-light colours which visually signal the current status of the dried material. The moisture value for the “green phase limit” is individually defined. An alarm is automatically triggered if this limit is exceeded. Optionally, an external acoustic signal can be connected.
External systems, such as laptops, PCs and mainframe computers, can be connected for documentation or further evaluation purposes via the sensor microprocessor’s interface (Modbus, TCP/IP, Hostlink, Profibus). The user can choose to have the material moisture content shown/given in ppm, as a percentage or as an mV signal.
About MANN+HUMMEL ProTec
MANN+HUMMEL ProTec GmbH, a company of the MANN+HUMMEL Group, is one of the leading suppliers of devices and systems for material handling in the plastic industry. The company develops, plans and provides solutions for all plastic processing techniques presently used based on long-standing know-how from the single unit to the complete system.
About MANN+HUMMEL
MANN+HUMMEL is a development partner and series supplier of the international automobile and mechanical engineering industries. In 2008, 12,400 employees at 41 locations around the world generated a turnover of 1.83 billion Euro. The product range of the corporation includes air filter systems, intake systems, fluid filter systems, cabin filters and plastic cylinder head covers with a high degree of integration for the automobile industry, as well as filter elements for the maintenance and repair of motor-vehicles. For the mechanical engineering, process technology and industrial manufacturing sectors, the product range includes industrial filters, a programme for the reduction of soot emissions in diesel engines, filter systems, as well as equipment for material handling.
Figure: The sensor in the new SOMOS® Plastic Analyser (left) – integrated directly after the drying hopper – provides quantitative online information during the production process on the drying result achieved, continuously and without sampling. The material-specific calibration data in the microprocessor is initialised using a portable setting device (right). (Photo: MANN+HUMMEL ProTec)
SOMOS® Plastic Analyser
The new SOMOS® Plastic Analyser
Non-destructive, quantitative online measurement of residual moisture in materials
The SOMOS® Plastic Analyser for continuous, quantitative determination of residual moisture in free-flowing plastics is a new addition to the MANN+HUMMEL ProTec portfolio in the area of efficient material drying systems.
Bensheim, March 2010 – The SOMOS® Plastic Analyser is a sensor that quantitatively and non-destructively records the residual moisture content of free-flowing plastics down to 10 ppm (0.001 %) and with a resolution of 1 ppm. It can be used intermittently, such as to check incoming goods, or also continuously to monitor ongoing production. Ideally, the sensor is then installed directly after the drying hopper. With a measurement volume of around one litre and up to five measurements per second, even very large material throughputs can be monitored without interruption. The system detects and automatically corrects influences on the reading from fluctuations in the bulk density. Suitable for material temperatures up to 200°C, the SOMOS® Plastic Analyser can be retrofitted to any drying system. It is maintenance-free and only needs periodic calibration (usually annually).
Material-specific parameters that have to be taken into account when drying hygroscopic plastics, such as the drying temperature, minimum dwell time in the drying process and the quantity of dry air needed, can basically be managed nowadays with the control parameters on current drying systems. However, there is still uncertainty on how to safely and continuously comply with the maximum permitted residual moisture content for an application used when planning a drying system project. Fluctuations in the properties of materials worked on during production cannot be ruled out.
These uncertainties can now be a thing of the past with the new SOMOS® Plastic Analyser. The quantitative measured values detected online with the analyser can also be fully recorded in process documentation, giving the processor the necessary peace of mind in respect of traceability, particularly when producing safety-related products.
SOMOS® Plastic Analyser – Material drying with “safety lights”
The SOMOS® Plastic Analyser's sensor detects the electrophysical properties of plastics in an alternating electrical field between capacitor plates and derives quantitative information on the level of moisture in the plastic. As plastics behave differently in an alternating electrical field depending on the specific material used, the sensor has to be calibrated to the respective material. The microprocessor included in every SOMOS® Plastic Analyser already contains calibration data for the most common technical plastics. It can be accessed with an external setting device and thereby initialised for the respective processing task in each case. MANN+HUMMEL ProTec would be pleased to undertake this for new materials as a service if requested, even at the user's premises.
The sensor’s microprocessor comes with three LEDs in traffic-light colours which visually signal the current status of the dried material. The moisture value for the “green phase limit” is individually defined. An alarm is automatically triggered if this limit is exceeded. Optionally, an external acoustic signal can be connected.
External systems, such as laptops, PCs and mainframe computers, can be connected for documentation or further evaluation purposes via the sensor microprocessor’s interface (Modbus, TCP/IP, Hostlink, Profibus). The user can choose to have the material moisture content shown/given in ppm, as a percentage or as an mV signal.
About MANN+HUMMEL ProTec
MANN+HUMMEL ProTec GmbH, a company of the MANN+HUMMEL Group, is one of the leading suppliers of devices and systems for material handling in the plastic industry. The company develops, plans and provides solutions for all plastic processing techniques presently used based on long-standing know-how from the single unit to the complete system.
About MANN+HUMMEL
MANN+HUMMEL is a development partner and series supplier of the international automobile and mechanical engineering industries. In 2008, 12,400 employees at 41 locations around the world generated a turnover of 1.83 billion Euro. The product range of the corporation includes air filter systems, intake systems, fluid filter systems, cabin filters and plastic cylinder head covers with a high degree of integration for the automobile industry, as well as filter elements for the maintenance and repair of motor-vehicles. For the mechanical engineering, process technology and industrial manufacturing sectors, the product range includes industrial filters, a programme for the reduction of soot emissions in diesel engines, filter systems, as well as equipment for material handling.
For more information, please visit:
https://edir.bulk-online.com/profile...processing.htm8595 protec polymer processing.htm
http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&cl...=&oq=&gsrfai=search?hl=de&client=safari&rls=en&q=Mann+%2B+Hummel+site%3Abulk online.com&meta=&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gsrfai=
Figure: The sensor in the new SOMOS® Plastic Analyser (left) – integrated directly after the drying hopper – provides quantitative online information during the production process on the drying result achieved, continuously and without sampling. The material-specific calibration data in the microprocessor is initialised using a portable setting device (right). (Photo: MANN+HUMMEL ProTec)
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