Thurne is nominated for the Swedish Technology Award 2024 (Svenska Teknikpriset) with the solution from Lenser – Digital Sensor Technology i-Plate for continuous real-time measurement of cake moisture in any Industrial Filter Press for Solid/Liquid Separation. Thurne is the official distributor for LENSER Filtration GmbH in Nordic region.
The Swedish Technology Award aims to highlight, reward, and recognize companies that have made significant efforts to improve production capabilities within the industry through innovation. The Swedish Technology Award is presented in connection with Scanautomatic and ProcessTeknik exhibition in Götheborg, Sweden. Theis award promotes innovation and encourages active sustainability efforts.
To be nominated for the Swedish Technology Award, the product should be of great interest to industrial automation, process automation, and digitalization. In its evaluation, the jury particularly considers the products’ characteristics from a sustainability perspective.
What is unique and innovative about the product/solution?
For the first time, the LENSER i-Plate makes it possible to take a look inside the filter chamber and display the filtration process in real time based on moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity in the filter cake. This allows the process to be controlled and optimized even during the filtration cycle.
This intelligent filter element represents a significant innovation in the marketplace, saving not only time and money, but also tremendous resources that were previously wasted or less considered. Its efficiency contributes to sustainability solution.
Principle
The integrated sensor records and visualizes the entire filtration process up to 27 bar pressure based on moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity in the filter cake. The entire filtration cycle can be tracked and controlled based on detailed time and cost analyses.
The entire measuring unit, including PCB, is integrated into the filter element. The electronics are encapsulated in a flat, robust stainless-steel housing. This kind of construction allows the sensor to be positioned at pip height, directly under the filter cloth, without significantly increasing the thickness of the filter element. That way, the measuring field is only minimally influenced by the filter cloth.
Technology
The measurement is made possible by electromagnetic waves in the frequency range from 500 MHz to 1,000 MHz. The sensor constantly evaluates the changes in radar wave propagation time due to varying dielectric constants of the suspension resp. filter cake suspension. The electromagnetic field energy is attenuated by aligning molecules having a permanent dipole (e.g. water, special solids, dissolved salts) in the measurement field according to their magnetic field strength. This attenuation is described by the change in dielectric constant. This signal is detected by the sensors, converted by a specifically developed algorithm and transmitted in real- time directly into the programmable logic controller (PLC) of the filter press.
Use
data and detailed time and cost analyses determine today’s competitiveness of an industrial production site. In the context of Industry 4.0, digitally measured values are intended to enhance the empirical values of employees and make processes scalable, controllable and, of course, visible.
Performance
With this new technology, the individual process steps can be tracked and evaluated in detail. It is thus possible to specify the ideal shut-off point for filling depending on varying suspension quality without overfilling the chamber of a membrane filter press. The sensor on the filter plate makes it possible to optimally define the entire filtration process.
Production capacity can be significantly increased, and energy and/or wash water consumption can be saved, contributing to a successful sustainability solution. Programming of the ideal switch-off point of the feed or squeeze cycle can then be based on real-time values, i.e. on a specific or the lowest cake moisture content (depending on the defined target). Alternatively, the lowest operating costs can be achieved by reducing inefficient cycle times. Once calibrated with the dewatered suspension, the measured values of the Lenser i-Plate have a high degree of reproducibility, which leads to an increased degree of automation and an increase in product quality, making downstream laboratory tests on the filter cake unnecessary.
More information about the product in the brochure.
Visit Thurne’s booth B01:50 at ProcessTeknik exhibition and experience how real-time monitoring is revolutionizing sustainability and efficiency.
More information about the Swedish Technology Award here.
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