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Particle size analyzer cuts energy consumption at China Aluminium

  • September 16, 2008
  • News

Summary

September 16, 2008 - The China Aluminium Industry Stock Company (Guizhou, China) is using an Insitec on-line particle size analyzer from Malvern Instruments to produce better quality carbon at lower variable cost. The milled carbon is used to manufacture electrodes for aluminium smelting, and particle size directly influences electrode performance. Installation of the Insitec has led to automated control, optimized operation of the milling circuit and reduced variable costs. The carbon is milled in a ball mill, a downstream classifier separating off the final product. Traditionally, particle size was measured by off-line sieve analysis which is both time-consuming and manually intensive. The on-line Insitec analyzes much more frequently and more rapidly, providing real-time data for control. These data are used to automatically vary classifier speed, maintaining product particle size in the specified range.The Insitec proved to be easy to install, was rapidly commissioned, and has run reliably ever since. Improved control has led to a reduction in over-milling, reducing energy consumption and increasing throughput. Furthermore, because particle size is so closely controlled there have been improvements in product quality. The Insitec is a laser diffraction-based particle size analyzer designed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with minimal manual intervention. It has no moving parts and accurately measures even concentrated streams. Suitable for particles in the size range 0.1 – 2000 microns it has a measurement frequency of 0.25 Hz (four measurements per second). About Malvern InstrumentsMalvern Instruments provides a range of complementary materials characterization tools that deliver inter-related measurements reflecting the complexities of particulates and disperse systems, nanomaterials and macromolecules. Analytical instruments from Malvern are used in the characterization of a wide variety of materials, from industrial bulk powders to the latest nanomaterials and delicate macromolecules. A broad portfolio of innovative technologies is combined with intelligent, user-friendly software. These systems deliver industrially relevant data enabling our customers to make the connection between micro (such as particle size) and macro (bulk) material properties (rheology) and chemical composition (chemical imaging).Particle size distribution, particle shape information, zeta potential, molecular weight, chemical composition, and bulk materials properties can all be determined with instruments from the Malvern range. The company’s laboratory, at-line, on-line and in-line solutions are proven in sectors as diverse as cement production and pharmaceutical drug discovery. Headquartered in Malvern, UK, Malvern Instruments has subsidiary organizations in all major European markets, North America, China, Korea and Japan, a joint venture in India, a global distributor network and applications laboratories around the world. Learn More

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