In today’s fast-paced industries, understanding particle shape and size is critical for maintaining product quality and optimizing processes. The Particle Insight Raptor Portable has emerged as a groundbreaking solution that offers unparalleled portability and precision for comprehensive particle analysis.
Image Credit: Vision Analytical Inc.
How Particle Size Once Was
Traditionally, analytical instrumentation, such as that for the measurement of particle size, would be located in a laboratory in a building or in a centralized location. This was for several reasons.
- Precision particle size equipment often has very high sensitivity to changes in temperature. Temperature variation can alter alignment in some techniques and affect the measurement readings due to temperature changes in the suspension fluids.
- In the case of Laser Diffraction, which requires constant automatic alignment of the laser, it would be very difficult to maintain the alignment of such sensitive lasers and detectors in the field, in a portable model. This can produce erroneous size results.
- These reasons have caused previous attempts to make portable particle analysis equipment to fail. Also, as a result of these reasons, instruments that are field-based often have much lower resolution than lab-based instrumentation, as they must compensate for temperature change and vibration impact. The result is that such low-resolution equipment cannot capture changes in samples or process them in the same way that lab-based equipment can.
Consequently, when samples are taken in the field, decisions cannot be made until the samples are sent to the lab, processed, and a data report is produced. These results are then sent back and receive expert analysis to determine if the process is in or out of specification. This can take as little as a day but in the majority of cases, it will take multiple days. During this time, decisions cannot be made, and money is lost while waiting for the results.
Laboratory-Grade Accuracy Meets Portability
Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA) is a relatively new technique that is not sensitive to alignment issues or temperature. The temperature of the suspension fluid does not affect the particle analysis. This renders DIA an ideal technique for a portable instrument that can be used in even the most demanding environments.
Additionally, it is the only technique for analyzing particle shape and size that has the same level of resolution in the field as in the lab. This enables an operator to obtain high-resolution particle size and shape data at the point of testing.
Dynamic Image Analysis technique is very simple. High-resolution pictures of particles are taken and analyzed by software. Does not care about temperature or vibration. Image Credit: Vision Analytical Inc.
The technique needed for Dynamic Image Analysis is very simple. High-resolution pictures are taken of the particles and then analyzed by software. DIA does not have specific temperature or vibration requirements.
Image Credit: Vision Analytical Inc.
The Particle Insight Raptor Portable was designed for both benchtop and portable applications, meaning that precise particle analysis is no longer confined to laboratories. Its ruggedized case and battery operation allow for seamless transitions between on-site and in-lab analyses. It is an invaluable tool for industries that require flexibility without compromising on accurate measurements.
When working in the lab, simply connect an external keyboard, mouse, monitor, and network connection to the ports that are located on the side of the instrument. When the user needs to take field-based real-time analysis, they can close the case and take it wherever the samples are; using the Particle Insight Raptor Portable means it is no longer necessary to send samples to the lab.
Made for both benchtop and portable use, the Raptor Portable ensures that precise particle analysis is not confined to the laboratory anymore. Its ruggedized case and battery operation enable easy movement between on-site and in-lab analyses, making it a crucial tool for industries that need flexibility without compromising on accuracy
More than Just Portable Particle Size
Dynamic Image Analysis is a technique that works effectively both as a portable and lab-based particle size and shape analyzer. Equally importantly, this technique also eliminates the necessity for an expert to interpret data.
Traditional particle size results are reported in the form of a Volume-Weighted size histogram and a D10, D50, and D90 value to determine if a process is in or out of control.
Typical Size-Only results from Laser Diffraction systems require experts to read statistics and make a determination of what is going on in the process. Image Credit: Vision Analytical Inc.
Typical Size-Only results gained from Laser Diffraction systems need to be analyzed by experts, who will read statistics and make a determination of what is happening in the process.
Dynamic Image Analysis workflow offers the information to customers enabling them to make a decision at the testing site without the need of an expert to identify a problem. Image Credit: Vision Analytical Inc.
Dynamic Image Analysis workflow offers information to customers directly, which enables them to make decisions at the testing site without needing an expert to identify the problem.
As a direct measurement method, Dynamic Imaging reports particle size and shape. Additionally, this technique reports extra information, such as thumbnail images as evidence of the measured particles.
- Identify problems at the testing site: No expert is needed to determine a problem in the field. This means that the operator can take immediate action. DIA easily identifies contamination, agglomerates, water droplets, air bubbles, etc, with no guesswork required.
- Identify mixed samples: Many industrial samples contain multiple types and sizes of particles. Dynamic Imaging takes 32 measurements of each individual particle, which allows the software to automatically differentiate each particle population.
- Particle Counts: As a number-based technique, the Raptor Portable Particle Size Analyzer can provide particle counts and the concentration of the total sample, or of a subpopulation of particles.
- On-Line Continuous Process Monitoring: DIA and the Raptor Portable model support real-time analysis, allowing for immediate adjustments and manufacturing process optimization. This means that the same system can be adapted for on-line continuous analysis.
Dynamic Imaging uses the shape of each particle to differentiate them. Image Credit: Vision Analytical Inc.
Conclusion
High-resolution data in the field without needing an expert’s intervention.
Imagine how much easier it would be if users could make decisions in real time, without needing to send samples to the lab.
The Particle Insight Raptor Portable represents the forefront of particle analysis technology, merging high-resolution measurement capabilities with portability. Its advanced features and adaptability mean it is a crucial instrument for industries that aim to achieve meticulous quality control and process optimization.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Vision Analytical Inc.
For more information on this source, please visit Vision Analytical Inc.