We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. More info.

As the global population continues to grow, so does the demand for new and modern infrastructures. The construction industry is expanding to meet these demands, from the construction of new homes, factories, and warehouses to the development or repair of roads and other transportation infrastructure. Hydraulic Locating Device

Sand production is at the top of the list of in-demand construction materials as a result.

Concrete, mortar, render, and many other building materials all use sand in some capacity. For sand production companies that supply raw sand to manufacturers of building materials, sand moisture is a crucial production parameter.

The moisture content of the raw sand can change by the time it is ready for processing because it is frequently stored outside and exposed to the elements. Incorporating strategies to monitor the drying process can thus significantly cut down on both time and energy requirements.

Early in the process, sand drying systems are purchased by sand processing plants in high volume. Running these systems requires a lot of energy because of the amount of sand that passes through them during a single production run.

However, sand production companies might unnecessarily be increasing their energy costs if they do not know the moisture levels of the sand before it enters the dryer and how much moisture is left in the sand after drying.

NIR (near-infrared) technology can be useful in this situation.

Process NIR instruments are an easy and dependable choice for quick temperature and moisture measurements of almost any substrate. For many different applications, in harsh or difficult operating environments, NIR technology offers accurate and repeatable data.

One sand processing company recently noticed irregularities in their sand-drying procedure. Regardless of the incoming moisture content, they would have their dryers set to maximum settings to ensure that the sand was completely dry. Their bottom line started to suffer as a result of the rising cost of energy.

To address two of their problems, the company contacted KPM Analytics and inquired about in-process NIR technology.

MCT460 Series measuring sand moisture entering a drying system. Image Credit: KPM Analytics

Challenge 1 solutions: The company installed an MCT460 Series in-process NIR analyzer on the conveyor that led incoming sand into the dryer in collaboration with KPM Analytics.

The company was able to track the moisture of the raw sand accessing the dryer in real-time, allowing them to initially manually and then eventually automatically adjust the dryer settings based on the real-time moisture readings. This was particularly helpful for drying out sand during or after inclement weather

The MCT460 Series’ durable design allowed it to withstand the demanding conditions of the sand drying process for long-term performance.

Challenge 2 solutions: Given the positive results from their NIR installation at the beginning of the sand drying process, the company installed an additional MCT460 Series system after the sand had been dried. This became an important tool to ensure that the process was efficient and that the sand was acceptable to proceed to later stages of production.

The operators were able to eventually automate the entire process because they had a better understanding of how long it might take for a single batch of sand to finish drying, thanks to the two in-process NIR systems. The company, most importantly, achieved a quick and significant return on investment by reducing dryer fuel costs by 10% to 40%.

NIR technology works well to measure moisture, temperature, and other parameters for raw materials before or after processing, from chemicals and powders to paper and textiles.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by KPM Analytics.

For more information on this source, please visit KPM Analytics.

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

KPM Analytics. (2023, January 17). Can NIR Technology Improve Sand Drying Efficiencies?. AZoM. Retrieved on February 15, 2023 from https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=22298.

KPM Analytics. "Can NIR Technology Improve Sand Drying Efficiencies?". AZoM. 15 February 2023. <https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=22298>.

KPM Analytics. "Can NIR Technology Improve Sand Drying Efficiencies?". AZoM. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=22298. (accessed February 15, 2023).

KPM Analytics. 2023. Can NIR Technology Improve Sand Drying Efficiencies?. AZoM, viewed 15 February 2023, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=22298.

Do you have a question you'd like to ask regarding this article?

AZoM spoke with Dr. Katharina Marquardt ahead of the 2023 International Day of Women and Girls in Science. We discuss her impressive career in STEM, spanning her expertise in subjects from mineralogy to ceramic materials.

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, AZoM talks with Dr. Debrupa Lahiri, an associate professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at IIT Roorkee, about her research and career in STEM.

In this interview, AZoM had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Giulia Galli, a professor at the Univeristy of Chicago and senior scientist at the Argonne National Laboratory, about her impressive career in science.

The APEX 400 is a dedicated solution for manual preparation of pressed pellets for XRF analysis. It is capable of pressing samples in supporting steel rings as well as in the standard unsupported format.

Find out more about how to run the lab more efficiently with access to all laboratory information using commercial web browser LabVantage 8.8.

This product profile outlines how NIR spectrometers can be used to achieve reliable process monitoring.

AZoM.com - An AZoNetwork Site

Foundry Casting Moulding Owned and operated by AZoNetwork, © 2000-2023