A live demonstration of the control that can be achieved with real-time analysis was one of the highlights of a joint presentation by Malvern Instruments and Ferrari Granulati at Powtech 2008.
Audiences watched as process changes at the Ferrari Granulati plant in Verona, Italy, were made directly from the stage.
An Insitec analyser, installed on line at the Ferrari Granulati plant instantaneously tracked the impact of changes on particle size, a defining product performance variable.
Ferrari Granulati uses both in- and on-line particle size analysers from the Malvern range to produce quality white marble powders for use in the paper, plastics and construction industries.
Real-time data allows very tight control of particle size distribution and full process optimisation.
Attendees at the presentation were able to observe two separate analysers.
The Insitec particle size analyser is installed at the exit of a milling circuit that uses a vertical roller mill to reduce average particle size to between three and eight microns.
During the talk the classifier speed of this circuit was varied.
The effect on particle size was obvious in just minutes due to the extremely fast response time of this process.
Real-time particle size monitoring using a Parsum probe was also demonstrated.
This analyser is used to optimise a humidity-sensitive sieving process.
Full process details clearly illustrated the economic benefits gained in each case.
