Bioethanol Moisture

Moisture Control During Production

When looking at all the challenges that bioethanol plant operators are tasked with, moisture control is one of the biggest. Maintaining the correct moisture levels is a crucial component in manufacturing bioethanol fuel as the presence of water in the end product is a problem for multiple reasons:

  • Water causes smoke, reduced power, and harder starting because it reduces the heat of fuel combustion.
  • Water causes corrosion of fuel system components like pumps or fuel lines.
  • Water causes the failure of fuel pumps because the paper-element filters in the system rot and fail allowing ingestion of large particles.
  • Water freezes to form ice crystals that provide sites for accelerating gelling of the fuel.
  • Water causes pitting in pistons.

By measuring moisture continually through the production of bioethanol, proactive avoidance of moisture issues is accomplished. Our goal at MoistTech is to help those who manufacture bioethanol to deliver only the highest quality product through our moisture sensor technology.

The IR-3000 moisture transmitter provides instant moisture content of the material being conveyed, allowing the operator to blend raw material to precise moisture levels required for efficient combustion or to avoid over drying thus saving energy and time.

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PERFORMANCE

Unsurpassed in performance, our sensors can accurately measure  moisture within tenths of a percent of most applications

STABILITY

MoistTech sensors withstand the test of time and are low to zero maintenance

RELIABILITY

Rely on MoistTech’s NIR moisture sensors to never drift or need re-calibration

COST OF OWNERSHIP

A moisture measurement system is essential for the production process and in some cases will pay for itself in less than 30 days

Installing Efficiency

By mounting the bioethanol moisture transmitter several inches above the conveyor or on a pipeline will allow the user to continuously monitor the process and can control the bioethanol moisture content either manually or automatically.

The IR-3000’s unique feature is that it is able to monitor the process even with small gaps in product flow without impacting the accuracy

Efficiency is a top of the line priority for manufacturers and the dryer can drain a lot of that. Measuring the moisture before and after the dryer allows the user to optimize the dryer settings to save time and money. A proper moisture control system will pay for itself with the energy savings from the dryer in less than 30 days. Efficiently controlling the dryer within the facility can drastically change the productivity levels.

Dust from the bioethanol product is not normally a problem. However, in extreme dusty environments, we recommend the installation of an air purge system to prevent the accumulation of material on the sensor’s window.

MoistTech Provides a Solution

MoistTech’s sensor calibrations, measurement wavelengths, algorithms and sensor optical requirements are pre-set at the factory. Typical accuracy is about ±0.2% moisture. Typical analog range is 0-75% moisture. The outputs can be adjusted to optimize PLC or recording requirements.

MoistTech has studied moisture and its applications in manufacturing for over 40 years. That’s why we’re confident our moisture analyzers are a step above the rest. We’re constantly working to develop the latest, most advanced moisture testing technology—which is how the IR-3000 came about.

Assess

Locate the point in the production process in which measuring moisture will be the most crucial and beneficial. Identify how you will use the moisture measurement data for improvements and if it will tie into your PLC.

Remember this could involve more than one installation point!

Develop

A closed loop process is achieved by incorporating a moisture measurement system into the manufacturing process. Developing a proactive solution to moisture control will avoid costly downfalls. 

Support

MoistTech’s experts will assess your specific application with lab tests, calibrations and accuracy results to ensure our equipment will peform for you. All of our sensors are pre-calibrated prior to being shipped to create a plug-and-play operation for the end-user.

Contact

We offer service and support throughout the world for our moisture measurement sensors and would be happy to connect you with a rep in your area. Contact us today for more information!

Understand the Process

The on-line moisture control system from MoistTech is fast and easy to install on your product lines. Once the sensor is in place, you can use an external display or PC to display real-time moisture levels. Because our NIR technology can store up to 50 calibration readings in a single sensor, it can conveniently be used on many types of applications.

This technology allows our products to measure moisture without direct contact with the product, thus it provides accurate results without creating any waste. And, since the technology uses a simple light source for measurement, our equipment allows for longer use.