Infrared Sensors for Powders and Bulk Solids

Biomass and biofuels are a key source of renewable energy. They include a variety of wood-sourced and organic products such as woodchips, pellets, sawdust, peat, and bagasse (the fibrous by-product of sugar cane). The calorific value of these biofuels is largely determined by their moisture content. If the moisture in the fuel is too low, the feed rate has to be slowed as the calorific value of the product increases and the fire will burn too hot; if it’s too high, it results in inefficient and incomplete combustion requiring more fuel to be added. In addition, moisture levels outside the tolerances could lead to products such as pellets not forming properly or decomposing easily.

With a non-contact measurement instrument from Nordson, operators can receive real-time information on the biofuel moisture content. This allows them to optimize combustion by adjusting the airflow to the furnace without having to wait for lab sample results. This results in more efficient combustion and a rapid return on investment.

Moisture content directly affects the stability of explosive materials. Explosives with inadequate moisture content can become more sensitive to ignition, handling, and transportation hazards. Conversely, excessive moisture can cause deterioration or inertness, reducing the effectiveness of the explosive or even rendering it entirely inert. Proper moisture control helps maintain the stability and safety of explosive products. In addition, the moisture content of explosives can significantly impact their performance characteristics, such as detonation velocity, energy output, and shelf life. Optimal moisture levels ensure consistent performance and reliability of explosives under various environmental conditions.

For years, Nordson has been supplying the explosives industry with on-line and at-line moisture sensors. Applications include ammonium nitrate, nitrocellulose chips, and nitrocellulose with nitroglycerine. Thanks to our know-how and technology, manufacturers can produce high-quality explosive products that meet stringent safety standards and performance requirements.

Drying mining products to meet the desired specifications requires a lot of energy. However, incorporating processes that use reliable and accurate real-time moisture measurements can improve efficiency and produce consistent quality products. This reduces scrap and avoids the tendency to over-dry products eliminating downstream issues.
 
Nordson works closely with the mining industry to develop robust non-contact moisture measurements for a wide range of processes to enable real-time process control of minerals and bulk materials. Applications include ash (power station and fly), bentonite powder, Laponite® powder (Laponite is a registered trademark of BYK Additives, Ltd.), crushed coal or coal powder, coke breeze powder, milled furnace slag, crushed limestone, talc powder, zeolite powder. 

Moisture measurement is critically important in pharmaceutical manufacturing for several reasons. Moisture content directly affects the stability, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceutical products. The presence of excess moisture can lead to degradation, microbial growth, and chemical reactions that can compromise the integrity and effectiveness of medications. Regulatory agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and EMA (European Medicines Agency) have stringent requirements regarding moisture control in pharmaceutical manufacturing. 

Nordson non-contact pharmaceutical moisture gauges can be used as part of the process analytical technology strategy to provide real-time moisture measurements of the drying process within the fluid bed dryer. Our NIR moisture sensors can measure either through a sight glass, if the formulation does not adhere to the window, or be used in combination with a proprietary fiber optic probe arrangement.