Krohne OPTIQUAD-EOF 4050 W inline analyser system for edible oil and fat processing

Krohne has introduced OPTIQUAD-EOF 4050 W for the continuous inline measurement of free fatty acids (FFA), total polar material (TPM), peroxide value (POV), moisture or dirt. The optical spectroscopic analyser system is aimed at frying and other edible oil as well as fat applications.

The system measures directly in the pipe: analysis is achieved via an optical window mounted in a standard VARINLINE measuring section. The readings are provided instantly for process control or dynamic control loops via four 4–20 mA outputs. Depending on the application, measurement of anisidine value (AV) and iodine value (IV) are possible. Compared to conventional laboratory methods used to obtain these values, the system reduces the need for sampling, sample transport and handling, and the associated sources of error and costs.

The optical spectroscopy analysing method allows for a range of uses in edible oil applications, such as oil extraction, oil refinement and frying processes up to oil recycling, as well as fat processing. It provides a measuring range of 0–98% for FFA and an accuracy of RMSEp: ±0.03% up to ± 1% FFA, depending on the measurement range.

The system consists of the analyser unit (protection rating IP65/NEMA4X) and the operating unit, an industrial PC with touchscreen display for parameterisation and automatic calibration in a stainless steel housing (IP65/NEMA4X), optionally built into a switch cabinet. It uses up to four measuring methods (transmission, scattering, fluorescence and refraction) with up to 12 wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared. The underlying calibration is calculated automatically from reference data specific to the application.