Monitoring & metering


Co-extrusion with Collagen gel


In addition to alginate gel, it is also possible to use collagen gels in sausage manufacture. Collagen casing is largely derived from beef and pig hides, but it offers most of the speed and efficiency advantages presented by alginate gels. After co-extrusion with collagen gel,


sausages are passed through a brine solution in a similar manner to the alginate gel process. Vaisala refractometers are able to continuously monitor the process as outlined above, to ensure that the correct salt concentration is maintained and product quality is protected. Emphasising the importance of the brine


measurement, a sausage manufacturer in the US said: “We treat co-extruded sausage casing with dipotassium phosphate to control the moisture, which directly affects the color and texture of the final product. Too much moisture in the casing makes the sausage too dark and the texture too chewy, while too little means the sausage will be too light and the texture too soft. The Vaisala K-PATENTS refractometer helps to keep the moisture at the specified level, ensuring a standardised end product.”


Cellulose sausage Casing


Vaisala refractometers are also used in cellulose sausage casing processes. In this application a cellulose fiber cloth is used to create the sausage casing, but first the cloth is desulfurised by passing it through a Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) bath. Also known as caustic soda, this solution is supplied from a tank, and spent caustic is returned to this


tank. Consequently, the NaOH concentration needs to be replenished because caustic is lost in the cloth during the impregnation process. A Vaisala refractometer is therefore employed, in a similar manner to the alginate and collagen applications above, to continuously monitor (in this case) the NaOH concentration and ensure accurate replenishment.


summary


In-line refractometry is the ideal technology for controlling the ar tificial sausage casing process. By providing continuous data, refractometers enable sausage manufacturers to control many of the key product quality features. Unaffected by par ticles, bubbles or


colour, the same technology is used for monitoring liquids in a wide range of other industries including semiconductor, chemical and refining, pulp and paper, textiles, pharmaceutical, brewing, beverages and of course food. The popularity of cellulose and alginate


casings is growing as manufacturers look for ways to lower costs, expand production and improve consistency whilst improving product quality, process efficiency, speed and flexibility. However, in order to take advantage of these benefits it is necessary to be able to continuously measure process liquids with a technology that is accurate, reliable and able to operate in challenging conditions. The Vaisala K-PATENTS refractometers meet that requirement and therefore help to meet the world’s growing passion for high quality sausages.


Vaisala www.vaisala.com


Cost-Cutting Real-time eneRgy monitoRing of CompRessed aiR


T


he SICK FTMg with Monitoring App is a scalable system that can target the compressed air energy use of individual


machine cells through to entire production or logistics halls. With no programming needed, it can quickly start visualising continuous compressed air data in a way that is easy to use and interpret. As well as enabling more sustainable use of resources, the data insights support better operational efficiency and help achieve reduced carbon targets, contribute towards ISO50001 Energy Management certification or compliance with the UK Government’s Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme . The FTMg is a multifunctional flow sensor that


enables the measurement of live values for compressed air energy in kWh. Data from the FTMg flow meter is presented via the SICK FTMg Monitoring App, which has been developed from SICK’s proven Industry 4.0 Monitoring Box condition monitoring platform. As well as values for pressure, temperature, flow velocity, mass flow rate and volumetric flow rate in real time, it provides totals for energy use, volume and mass over a pre-defined period. The user-friendly dashboard makes it easy to


interpret data to detect leaks or overconsumption and to look for changes and trends. Email alerts can be set up for maintenance reminders or to give pre- defined warnings with job recommendations, for example when data strays beyond pre-defined limits. Users can drill down to identify costs, for example for individual production centres or by shift. Up to eight FTMG flow meters can be configured


via each SICK Smart Services Gateway, which collects data, aggregates and encrypts it before sending it securely via the customer’s own IT infrastructure through a firewall to the SICK cloud. Alternatively, it is possible to by-pass the IT infrastructure by using mobile communications over 3G or 4G. Individuals then have access through a personal SICK ID from any device with a web browser. The SICK FTMg, which stands for Flow Thermal


Meter for inert gases, uses the dynamic calorimetric principle for precision measurement, enabling it to detect even the smallest changes reliably. Its straight measurement channel design ensures highly-accurate measurement with almost zero pressure loss as gases flow through the sensor during measurement. SICK also offers alternatives for customers who do


not require the FTMg Monitoring App. For customers wishing to integrate SICK FTMg flow meters into their own IT systems, one or more devices can be used with an IIoT gateway, such as the TDC-E from SICK, for data pre-processing and integration into customer- specific MES, cloud or energy management systems. The FTMg flow sensor also features an onboard web server or a variety of Industrial communication outputs. This flexibility in communication technology enables easy integration into existing control or data acquisition architectures


SICK 36 www.sick.co.uk August 2022 Instrumentation Monthly


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