Granulator with Parsum Probe - Degussa Case Study

• Degussa Rheinfelden, Germany
• Degussa specializes in specialty chemicals but has divisions in the processes of coatings, advanced fillers, and fine/industrial chemicals for industries like pharmaceuticals and food additives.

Overview

Two Parsum probes were installed at the Degussa plant in Rehinfelden, Germany. One probe was inserted into the process line directly after the fluid bed granulator. It was installed in a gravity line to measure the pre-product while the other probe was installed after the coating process to measure the final product. Degussa measures the Dv 10,50 and 90 and sends the feedback signal to their control room. The data are essential in helping to control their granulator while producing pre-carbonate granules, a component of detergents.

The graph below compares the in-line continuous measurement of the Parsum probe to an off-line manual sieve analysis. A sieve analysis was done every two hours to control the entire process, while the Parsum sends data to the operators in their control room continuously in real time. There is a strong correlation between the two methods, but the Parsum results show the more erratic nature of the particle size, since the time between measurements is much smaller. Using the Parsum data, Degussa can adjust the granulator more often to produce much less particle size variation in the pre-carbonate granules than would be possible by sieve analysis alone.