Jul 31 2007
Delegates experiment with on-line analysis and automated mill control at an innovative workshop jointly run by Malvern Instruments and Siemens AG, Automation and Drives Solutions Process Industries (A&D SP).
A new one-day workshop developed jointly by Malvern Instruments and Siemens AG offers a unique opportunity for practical exploration of the potential of on-line particle size analysis and automated mill control. The workshop was run for the first time in April this year at the Siemens AG, (A&D SP) Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt. The day began with presentations by experts from both companies. In a practical session – ‘live optimal milling’ – delegates were given interactive access to the Siemens plant, to investigate the exceptional control that automation delivers.
David Pugh, Process Marketing Manager for Malvern Instruments said: “Our Insitec range offers continuous real-time particle size measurement solutions for almost any process, whether wet or dry, and automated control is the best way of exploiting the potential of these systems. Siemens AG has developed with the Malvern Insitec (online particle size analyzer) a tool for process control; the company’s plant here at Frankfurt demonstrates how this tool enhances mill operation. Seeing automated control in action is a powerful way of communicating the transformational nature of a switch from off- to on-line analysis.”
The Malvern Insitec providing continuous real time particle size analysis.
During the workshop attendees investigated the response of the mill to changes in variables such as feed rate and particle size set point. With automated control, transition times are slashed and the plant runs consistently at an optimal point. This leads to increased throughput - up to 30% - reduced waste and minimised variable costs. Automated measurement and control simultaneously deliver significant reductions in manual input.