Analysis of Constituent Fraction in Process Streams
A FRST supported project
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Project Personnel: Ian Woodhead, John Christie, Paul Riding, Kenji Irie. |
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Product composition is vital to many processing industries, where it determines quality, production cost and adherence to statutory requirements. The objective of this research work is to develop techniques for on-line measurement of composition in product streams, such as milk powder and cheese, hence enabling processing industries to monitor and thus control the volume fraction of key product constituents, leading to better process control and product specification.
We have devised algorithms and adapted coaxial probe theory and software, to measure the broadband spectroscopic properties of a range of materials using time domain measurements (time domain techniques are amenable to rapid, on-line measurements). We have also adapted an existing dielectric model for several constituents by incorporating the relaxation characteristics of each substantive inclusion. These advances have cleared the way to refine the use of the model to detect key volume fractions using spectroscopic measurements. Once the techniques have been further refined in the laboratory and we have completed the development of appropriate hardware, they will be tested in industry. We are aiming to conduct in-industry trials during the second half of 2002, and assuming success, will then progress to application engineering in concert with an instrumentation industry partner.