Cereal blending optimization with NIR technology

In co-operation with ZEISS, German company FRIEDRICH electronic GmbH developed the new NIR analyzer NIRC for continuous quality measurements of cereals. It allows for online-monitoring of parameters like moisture, protein level, hardness or volume flow rate.

The main advantages of the new system are user-friendly operation and simple installation by means of clamping rings into an oblique downpipe. After installation, the system is integrated via cable into a computer network, in which the measuring data can be uploaded.

A Corona extreme spectrometer by ZEISS is the centerpiece of the NIRC. It analyzes the cereals by means of an independent measuring device inside a mounted housing, supplying the data in real-time to a local network computer. The special software installed on this PC offers a wide range of continuous and complete monitoring possibilities of the quality data as well as many other useful features.

By combining the NIRC with the gravimetric dosing unit Flow Controller FC3, even automatic protein level control is made possible. The FC3 can be controlled either directly or via various interfaces. Without a central PLC including bus interface at hand, the use of an optional control unit with touchscreen is recommended, offering convenient remote control of currently up to four dosing units. An extension of up to six remote controlled systems will become available shortly.

For problem-free integration in existing plants, the Flow Controller features a very low housing and various useful monitoring possibilities, e. g. automatic closing after “silo empty”-alarm, automatic zero-taring and online position monitoring with blocking detection.

More information about the NIR-measuring device NIRC

More information about the Flow Controller FC3