Check here for the questions we are asked most frequently. Don’t see your question or answer? Please click to ask us a question.
What information do you need to understand our process and application?
With thousands of moisture analyzer installations, we have in-depth knowledge of many industrial manufacturing processes. Our moisture measurement systems are custom built to meet your specific requirements. We recommend that you send three representative samples of each material that will be measured.
We need to know the product, its moisture range (%), moisture target, color, shape, size, method of conveyance, and ambient temperature. You may complete and send our Application Overview to sales@sensortech.com.
Where are your offices located?
The address for our headquarters is: 341 Bernoulli Circle, Oxnard, CA 93030.
We also have divisions in The Netherlands and China.
How long have you been in business?
Sensortech Systems, Inc. has been incorporated since 1983.
What is a moisture analyzer?
A moisture analyzer determines the moisture content of a sample
with the loss on drying method and consists of a weighing and heating unit (infrared). It is often also called moisture balance or moisture meter.
What is the Quadrabeam Principle?
Quadrabeam liminates instrument drift due to aging and ambient temperature changes
In the 1970s, a new technique was developed by Roger Carlson and became known as the “Quadrabeam” principle. This design splits the source energy into two paths, namely the product beam and the prime beam. Both paths pass through the filter wheel at different points in the rotation of the wheel. Thus where the previous design produced alternate pulses of reference and measure signals, the Quadrabeam produces four pulses with each wheel rotation – product reference (r), product measure (m), prime reference (r’)and prime measure (m’), see figure 2.
The two reference beams are ratioed in the form R = r/r’
Similarly the two measure beams are ratioed M = m/m’
The final measurement related value x is determined by ratioing the previous results:
X = R/M
Since both reference beams are generated from the same source, pass through the same filter and are recombined onto the same detector, any variations are completely eliminated. Similarly variations in the measure beams are cancelled other than variations due to the measured component.
The Quadrabeam principle is a major landmark in the history of NIR instrument development and virtually eliminates instrument drift due to component aging and ambient temperature changes.
NDC/IRE recognized the importance of the Quadrabeam principle but patent protection prohibited exact duplication. They developed a similar concept in which the incident light beam was split, but instead of recombining product and prime beams, dual detectors were used to measure the beam pairs separately. Though this technique is an improvement over dual beam instruments, it does not compensate for detector drift and requires precise matching of detectors.
Designed by Roger Carlson, the original inventor of the Quadrabeam principle, the NIR-6000 design is based on the same measurement technique but incorporates several improvements in optical configuration and takes advantage of the very latest electronic advances.
Which moisture sensor technology is right for my product?
IR VS. RF TECHNOLOGY
Determining the proper type of moisture sensor is essential to the accuracy of your moisture measurement. Sensortech has found that every application of moisture measurement technology requires an inclusive consideration of the product being measured. This consideration helps to determine the type of technology that best suits the application.
Sensortech has developed two primary technologies, Near Infrared (IR) and Radio Frequency (RF), to achieve the greatest accuracy for each application of moisture measurement technology. Before settling on one technology over the other it is always a good idea to consult a Sensortech specialist and have them explain why the one technology is better for your application than the other.
Surface vs. Penetrating Measurement
IR MEASUREMENT
IR technology is a surface measurement and its effective use depends upon the moisture distribution of the product being measured. If there is not a uniform moisture distribution within the product being measured than the moisture composition of the surface will likely not be equal to the whole of the product. This is a primary consideration when making the determination whether a particular application will be a good fit for IR technology. Although moisture distribution is a primary consideration it is not the sole consideration. Consult a Sensortech specialist for a free laboratory analysis of the product to be measured.
RF MEASUREMENT
RF technology is a penetrating measurement that uses a radio frequency dielectric measurement to analyze the full moisture composition of your product. This moisture measurement technology relies on the relatively high dielectric of water relative to most solids. The measurement is sensitive to variations in product density but provides an accurate moisture measurement for applications falling within its scope of use. To receive a free laboratory analysis of your product to determine whether RF is a good match for your application simply fill out the following application survey and send it to our Engineering Group:info@sensortech.com
Alternatively, send us a quick note to begin your free lab analysis.
Why moisture measurement and control?
How our customers may benefit from moisture measurement and control is the most critical part of understanding Sensortech’s instrument technology. Our existing clients already know the importance of our technology in their process but the following points can never be overstated:
Effective Process Control
Moisture control is an important aspect of the manufacturing processes. Identifying a target moisture range and taking steps to achieve that target range will optimize the process control of virtually any manufactured product. Having a real-time moisture measurement of a product as it is being manufactured will allow the producer to adjust their process to achieve the target range and effectively control their manufacturing process with minimal down-time and maximum efficiency.
Increase Product Consistency
Real-time moisture control is a key performance indicator for manufacturers whose goal is to increase their product consistency. Variations in product moisture during the manufacturing process can impair the quality of the product. These variations, without the aid of Sensortech’s Moisture Measurement and Control Technology, often go unnoticed and produce large variations in the moisture composition of the product being manufactured. Implementing moisture measurement and control technology provides the manufacturer the ability to spot product inconsistencies in real-time and make process adjustments before the finished products are damaged or produced with poor quality.
Reduce Energy Costs
Implementing Sensortech’s Moisture Measurement and Control Technology can significantly reduce energy costs in a number of ways. Having a real-time measurement of moisture can prevent over-drying and unnecessary energy usage. Additionally, energy costs in producing poor quality product that is not fit for the customer and must be reprocessed or disposed are other sources of energy costs that can be avoided by implementing moisture measurement and control technology. Energy costs are a significant source of operational expenses and reducing these costs can mean significant cost savings.
Reduce Product Waste
Implementing IR Technology provides a real-time moisture measurement that spotlights variations in the product as it is being manufactured. This real-time measurement gives the producer the ability to make immediate adjustments in their process and to avoid the pitfall of manufacturing product that is unfit for the customer. Without knowing the moisture content, in real-time, a producer may continue to manufacture unfit product and learn of its poor quality only after a significant quantity has been produced.
Improve Quality Control
Consistency is a hallmark of quality. Understanding the requirements of making a quality product and consistently achieving those requirements is the best way to facilitate quality control. Moisture control is a significant contributor to the quality of a product and implementing Sensortech’s Moisture Measurement and Control Technology into the process provides the ability to maintain a consistency in your product moisture. Maintaining this moisture consistency will improve the quality control of virtually any production process.
Raise Product Quality
The quality of a product produces many tangible and intangible benefits. Many of the tangible benefits include an effective process control system, increased product consistency, reduced energy costs, reduced product waste, and improved quality control but the intangible benefits, arguably, have an even greater impact. Consumers respect quality and consumers drive the demand for a product. Real-time moisture measurement and control in a manufacturing process produces a quality product and, consequently, drives the demand for your product.
Reduce Water Consumption
Water consumption is a significant source of production costs for many manufacturers. Reducing this water consumption can play an important role in the productivity of the manufacturing process. Implementing real-time moisture measurement and control in a manufacturing process helps to identify unnecessary water usage and facilitates a better method of its control.
Increase Overall Productivity
Doing more with less is a strong driver of increasing productivity. Sensortech’s Moisture Measurement and Control Technology automates may of the tasks normally associated with productivity. Moisture control through the manual methods of testing and quality control are a good start but fall short of the benefits of automating these tasks. Identifying issues related to moisture control through manual methods generally spotlight the issues after-the-fact. Implementing real-time moisture measurement and control through Sensortech’s Measurement and Control Technology spotlights the issues as-they-occur and drives productivity beyond the scope of traditional methods.
Boost Profitability
The cost of Sensortech’s Moisture Measurement and Control Technology generally pays for itself through an increase in profitability within the first three months of its implementation. Thirty years in the moisture measurement and control business has given Sensortech the experience to qualify this statement with confidence. Many of our customers already understand this principle and why our repeat customer base is always growing. This growth is generated by current customers who understand, or who have come to understand, the importance of moisture measurement and control in their manufacturing process.
Product Analysis
Another benefit of implementing Sensortech’s Moisture Measurement and Control Technology into a production process is the ability of a customer to better understand their product. Utilizing moisture measurement and control technology provides a user with the ability to experiment, test, research, and perform product analysis. A producer’s ability to better understand their product provides an understanding of their production process as a whole and encourages greater productivity.