Malvern ALISS at-line particle size analyzer on show

The recently introduced Malvern ALISS at-line particle size analyzer for dry powder processes will be shown on the Malvern Instruments booth at the International Powder & Bulk Solids Conference/Exhibition (8-11 May 2006, Rosemont, IL), together with the company’s industry leading Mastersizer 2000 laser diffraction based particle size analyzer, and the new Morphologi G2 high sensitivity particle image analyzer.

The Malvern ALISS has applications in a wide range of processing industries, including powder coatings, minerals and cement. It uses the same proven and robust Malvern Insitec technology and platform that is normally employed for particle sizing on-line. Users therefore gain access to this robust laser diffraction technology to make measurements in an automated laboratory, or manually close to the process line. The Malvern ALISS was named winner of the Powder/Bulk Solids 2005 Innovation Award in the Processing category

A significant benefit of Malvern ALISS is that it can be transformed easily into an on-line system at a later date. This allows the off-line optimization of a number of mills while retaining the option to then dedicate the particle sizing system on-line for a particular key process. Malvern ALISS can be centrally located among multiple mills, reducing the time from sampling to results to decision-making thus facilitating timely process control.

Two at-line packages are available – one that is ideal for automated laboratories and a second which includes a graphical user interface on a rugged touchscreen industrial PC. Plant operators can make measurements of all the powder in a grab sample (typically up to 100 g). This will avoid the introduction of errors associated with sub-sampling procedures. Additionally no complex sample preparation or disposal procedures are needed. Results are easily exported to plant control and information systems using Malvern’s OPC server software package.

As would be expected from an industrial instrument, maintenance requirements are minimal. Ceramic linings protect critical, high-velocity areas of the sample pathway and pro-active purging ensures that windows are kept free from dust. www.malvern.co.uk