graINspect Stream

GraINspect Stream is instrumentation device for real-time and continuous (24/7) monitoring of particle size distribution (PSD), operating over unstructured streams: such as conveyor belt with unknown or varying speed, roller screens, transfer points, discharge points, even pelletizing discs and similar.

The device consists of laser profile sensor, collecting the data at high rate (>300Hz, exposure ≤10μs) and an industrial computer (DIN-rail mountable). Advanced graINspect algorithms are used to evaluate the PSD continuously, the results being exposed over the standardized OPC/UA protocol, with history support. Plant control system can use this data for monitoring and regulation. The system is also human-accessible over various protocols (VNC, http).

The device can detect pellets ≥ 2mm; this is only limited by the profile sensor resolution in time and space, and trade-offs are possible (e.g. capture width against higher spatial resolution; laser power against shorter exposure, …)

Pelletizing disc

Transfer point

Roller Sceen

This example shows a (hypothetical) example of instrumenting a roller screen sieve where the PSD change can be evaluated at several points along the sieve. This level of instrumentation is impossible with traditional methods such as optical analysis. Note how the stream gets more coarse at subsequent rollers.

Conveyor

In addition to PSD, conveyor profiler can determine volume throughput, given known conveyor velocity.