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Dew point analyser success for container maker

An Able Instruments and Controls product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 12, 2003

Plastipak has instituted chilled mirror dew point analysers as a gating measurement to support installed industrial dew point transmitters.

Measuring moisture in compressed air dryers is critical for plastic bottle manufacturers.

As a result of a recent problems encountered at one of Plastipak's plants, the company has now instituted chilled mirror dew point analysers as a gating measurement to support installed industrial dew point transmitters.

Furthermore, this configuration is being recommended to all other Plastipak facilities.

This is a testimony to the value of the technology in this field.

In the manufacture of plastic containers, compressed air dryers are used to dry raw plastic materials, before those materials are sent to the injection moulder to ensure dryness.

Excess moisture in the air coming off of those compressed air dryers can have extremely damaging effects.

The final plastic product can be opaque or cloudy in appearance, demonstrate decreased structural integrity through weakness and brittleness and have a poor surface finish due to roughness and streaking.

In September 2001, Plastipak had an urgent problem on three of its compressed air dryers.

The company believed the dew point transmitters on each of the dryers were reading incorrectly and giving alarm conditions.

By using a chilled mirror dew point hygrometer on site it was able to verify that it was all three dryers and not the dew point instrumentation that was in fact malfunctioning, by failing to release dry air.

The transmitters had become saturated with excess moisture and correctly indicated a high reading.

It was discovered that the compressed air dryers were not being properly drained of the condensed moisture from the compressor and this was causing moisture back up in the dryers resulting in wet air output.

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