ISSUE FOCUS 42 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2024 tritional value of the final feed pellet. This can lead to non-compliant product resulting in growth problems or animal health issues, and affect the pelleted product’s market value. With the improved technologies now available, at lower costs, which are simpler to use, easier to install and have very low maintenance requirements, measurement and control of the feed processing operations is now a logical next step in plant development. It is now cost effective and efficient to implement end-to-end, in-line moisture measurement throughout the entire plant to optimise the entire process. From ingredient reception and storage to mixing, drying and final storage. TYPES OF MOSISTURE MEASUREMENT Each type of measurement has its own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of measuring in-line are considerable when controlling a running process. Use of multiple sensors enables real-time adjustments to be made to the process with no delay or lag. In-line sensors also allow for both feedforward and feedback process control. While there are significant advantages in installing a sensor in a single location, there are even greater advantages to achieving end-to-end control. This requires more sensors, meaning that it is even more important that the sensors used are low cost, and simple to install and maintain. Selecting a sensor that is repeatable and reliable will enable a producer to truly benefit from the anticipated gains. Introducing a sensor that is fragile or requires complex calibration or that may drift over time simply introduces another unknown variable into the process, the exact opposite of what should be happening. The objective is to consistently measure moisture and to make meaningful adjustments based on reliable and repeatable input data. This should remove a single, and very important variable, moisture, from unduly influencing the processes and product quality. When choosing a sensor, it is also important to consider the total-cost-of ownership, the capital cost and ongoing maintenance costs including anticipated reliability and the time required from engineers to maintain the system. Selecting an incorrect sensor for a given situation results in more anomalies in the process, frustration from engineering staff and often leads to the equipment eventually being abandoned.
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