In wastetoenergy facilities, controlling the ash residue is a critical
concern of plant operators
. After combustion, the ash residue that is left, is sprayed with water to reduce dust and odors which is then transported to landfills/monofills. However, too much or too little moisture can create a number of problems for wastetoenergy plants. By integrating MoistTechs IR3000 online NIR Moisture Sensor into the processprocessors are able to monitor and control 100% of the ash. Managing the ash residue is important step for many reasons at incineration facilities around the world. From minimizing the possibility of ash dust inhalation and ingestion of employees, to preventing ash being absorbed into the environment, as well as, to lowering transportation costs due to weight.
With MoistTechs NIR Moisture sensor operators will be able to instantly and continuously measure ash moisture and control these problems.
 MoistTech’s IR3000
Preventing airborne dust and controlling weight of the ash, MoistTech recommends installing a sensor after combustion and moisture spray. From past installations and depending on the matrix of the ash, the optimum moisture range is 15-18% with a target of 15% for control of dust and weight of the ash. The moisture content lowest point is 12-14% before the ash becomes airborne and above 25% moisture the ash turns into mud that contains surface moisture (liquid) making it very heavy and expensive to haul away. With continuous online moisture measurement, waste-to-energy plants will find huge money savings. From savings in transportation due to weight of excess moisture, to savings in water usage for dust suppression
and clean-up. Plants also reduce the amount of wear and tear on equipment due to the dust and ash build up and prevent blockages on the conveyor resulting in shutting down the boiler. 
Unlike other instrumentation of this type, some of the unique features of the IR3000 is that it is able to monitor the product even with small gaps in product flow and is unaffected by ambient light without impacting the accuracy.
The IR3000 is also ideal for installations on chain conveyors and screw conveyors. Additionally, since waste-to-energy plants can be an extremely dusty environment at times, a small amount of air may be necessary to prevent dust collection on the lens of the sensor. MoistTech is very experienced with the moisture sensing requirements in the waste-to-energy facilities as we have many installations throughout the world. Sensor calibrations, measurement wavelengths, algorithms and sensor optical requirements are pre-set at the factory. The outputs can be adjusted to optimize PLC or recording requirements. 
 
For
additional information or to discuss your application, please contact Info@MoistTech.com