Thurne Wins Jury’s Prize at the Swedish Technology Award 2024

The jury has selected the LENSER i-Plate from Thurne as the winner of the Swedish Technology Award 2024 (Svenska Teknikpriset).

This innovative intelligent filter plate was recognized for setting new standards in industrial filtration through advanced digital sensor technology. The award-winning LENSER i-Plate enables real-time monitoring of filtration processes, optimizing resource use, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing waste—a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the industry.

Thurne is the official distributor for LENSER Filtration GmbH in the Nordic region.

The Swedish Technology Award highlights, rewards, and recognizes companies that that significantly improve production capabilities within the industry through innovation. The Swedish Technology Award was presented at Scanautomatic and ProcessTeknik exhibition, which took place from October 8-10, 2024, in Göteborg, Sweden. This award promotes innovation and encourages active sustainability efforts.

The committee of the award will donate 10,000 SEK in Thurne’s name to Engineers Without Borders, supporting their mission to promote sustainability through improvements in education, gender equality, and access to water and sanitation.

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 solutions.

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.

Jury’s Motivation for Selection

The jury for the Swedish Technology Prize 2024 emphasized the following reasons for selecting the LENSER i-Plate “Lenser i-Plate is a product that enables improvements in the industry’s crucial filtration steps. Real-time information allows direct control of quality and process. The sensor can be integrated into existing filters, offering the opportunity to upgrade to a higher degree of automation. Additionally, the sensor measures during filter cleaning, ensuring it is cleaned to the exact required level. Lenser i-Plate is an elegant and smart solution that increases productivity through precise quality and reduced resource consumption.”

Jury Members:

• Björn Langbeck, industrial expert, Tillväxtverket
• Mats Björkner, ProcessTeknik, pumps and valves, Pumpportalen
• Anette Winter, ProcessTeknik, engineer and technician, Chalmers Professional Education AB
• Lars Hamberg, PhD food production, RISE
• Staffan Folestad, consultant and visiting researcher, Chalmers (IMS), PhD, Assoc Prof
• Daniel Johansson, Produktledare inom Marin, Instrumentering och Automation, Scanjet
• Martin Viktorsson, System Architect, Hydac

Official website of the Swedish Technology Award.

The solution from Lenser is Digital Sensor Technology i-Plate for continuous real-time measurement of cake moisture in any Industrial Filter Press for Solid/Liquid Separation. More information in the Brochure.