Electron Machine Maintains "A" Rating with ISNetworld

Electron Machine Maintains
ISNetworld A Rating

ISNetworld is a resource that assists in establishing partnerships between hiring clients and contractors through corporate transparency across management, training, and safety infrastructure. They maintain a world-wide online contractor management database, designed to meet internal and governmental record keeping and compliance requirements. They collect and present health and safety, procurement, quality and regulatory information to their subscriber-ship of hiring clients.

ISNetwork’s goal is to connect hiring clients with safe, reliable and sustainable contractors and suppliers. Their process (for contractors) requires maintaining accurate information, records, and processes concerning insurability, safety, training, hiring, and diversity information. ISNetwork's hiring clients and contractors both benefit through a streamlined, thorough, and consistent qualification process.

Electron Machine Corporation is proud to be an ISNetwork approved contractor in good standing and has has been awarded an “A” in contractor rating for demonstrating high standards of quality and safety. An “A” rating typically means the contractor is listed as “excellent/preferred” and can be hired without restriction.

Reliably and Consistently Measuring Green Liquor Density in the Paper Mill

Paper mill green liquor
density measurement system.

Green liquor is the dissolved concentration of sodium sulfide, sodium carbonate, and other compounds from the recovery boiler in the paper making process. Measuring its density is a critical component for the quality of the paper production.

The difficult scaling associated with green liquor results in an optical coating on the refractometer sensing head. If this scaling can be controlled to allow an acceptable duration of on-line measurement, and then effectively removed when coating occurs, the accuracy of the refractometer can be fully utilized with minimal maintenance. The primary issue then becomes the maintenance required to keep the cleaning system operating effectively. 

Using inline refractometers with accompanying heated high-pressure water cleaning systems provides excellent results in effective removal of optical coatings by reducing thermal changes, minimizing maintenance, and allowing for a reliable measurement source for on-line automatic control.

The Electron Machine MPR EScan is used to measure the green liquor dissolved density, or TTA, at two stages in the process: after the green liquor dissolving tank and after the green liquor clarifier. The in-line measurement, with the refractometer sensing head installed directly in the main process lines, allows real-time control of green liquor dilution to meet target TTA set-points. The measurement is also used to indicate (and prevent) excessive green liquor density and the resulting dangerous impending crystallization within the dissolving tank.

Electron Machine MPR Escan

Reducing the variation of green liquor solids by automatically controlling weak-wash dilution with the MPR E-Scan refractometer results in a reduction in scaling. Scaling issues are further reduced when pressurized water, heated to the process temperature, is used to effectively clean the refractometer optical components. The compound result is beneficial for both control and maintenance.

For more information, visit www.electronmachine.com or call 352-669-3101.

Benchtop Refractometer Rugged Enough For Field Use

DSA E-Scan
Dissolved Solids Analyzer

Refractometry is a widely employed analytical technique used to indirectly measure dissolved solids content of subject liquids. The process employs a refractometer, a device or instrument, to determine the refractive index for a test sample. The measurement is employed throughout science and industry to assess a material's composition or purity.

The refractive index of a substance is dependent, in part, upon temperature and the wavelength of light used in the measurement. Common applications include Brix testing for sucrose level, along with others in the beverage, pulp and paper, chemical, flavor, and fragrance industries. Refractometry is used as a quality control measurement, to assure uniformity among product batches.

Manual refractometers have been available for many years and require human observation and interpretation of a scale reading to obtain a refractive index. Automatic, as well as in-line units are available today that provide uniform accuracy and faster sample processing.

The DSA E-Scan, manufactured by Electron Machine, is an automatic, bench-top critical angle refractometer with a digital readout and temperature-controlled sample chamber. Its compact size and rugged design permit operation in the field and in areas with limited space. The unit provides fast and accurate refractive index measurements of sample liquids.

Dissolved Solids Analyzer Benchtop Refractometer from Electron Machine Corporation

Refractometer for Juice Concentration Processing

In-line process refractometer

The production of fruit juice concentrate involves taking a comparatively dilute feed stock of fruit juice and delivering a uniformly concentrated output. The process accomplishes removal of water through an evaporative operation employing purpose specific equipment. Fruit juice concentrate contains the solid components of the feedstock fruit juice, and provides for easier transportation and longer storage life.

The array of fruits processed into concentrate includes almost every commercially harvested type.

Juice is extracted from various fruits in a number of ways that are specifically adapted for the shape, size, and nature of the fruit. Once the juice is extracted and purified it will generally be stored in a primary tank which serves as the feed device to the evaporator. Juice concentration will vary at this initial stage due to a number of natural factors. The concentration process output will provide product uniformity.

Regardless of the method used for concentrating the juice, in-line process refractometers can be used at strategic points in the process to measure solids concentration and evaluate equipment performance and product quality. Output signals from the refractometers serve as inputs to the command and control system for the evaporators, allowing feed rate to closely match evaporation rate and make most efficient use of the energy consuming equipment. 

In an industrial environment, ruggedness, reliability, and accuracy are key features needed for an in-line process refractometer. Share your refractometry challenges with the experts at Electron Machine Corporation and get effective solutions.

Applying Process Refractometers in Sugar Cane Processing

Raw and final product of sugar refining

Sugar cane, after harvesting, requires processing within a limited time window to avoid sugar loss by inversion to glucose and fructose. The traditional two stage process, milling and processing, may be combined in a single modern production facility. Process refractometers can be found in both operations, making an optical measurement of a solution’s refractive index used to determine the concentration of dissolved solids.

To achieve high quality liquid and crystal sugars and contain production cost, refractometers are employed to deliver accurate in-line Brix and other measurements in the cane sugar refining and milling processes. 

Specific uses of refractometers in sugar production are:

• Product flow adaptation to evaporator capacity to achieve energy savings.
• Extraction process optimization, minimizing the use of water that will need to be removed at the evaporator.
• Separation column feed juice control to adjust concentration to match capacity.
• Quality assurance check on liquid bulk sugar and molasses.
• Vacuum pan automatic and accurate seeding.
• Monitor supersaturation over complete strike of crystallization.

Share your refractometry challenges and applications with the experts at Electron Machine Corporation for effective solutions.

Welcome to the Refractometers for Industry Blog

We're glad you found us and hope you visit back often. This blog will provide weekly posts on the science of refractometry and its use in industrial application. Topics will cover design, construction, uses, new products and new markets for industrial refractometers.

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