Curd Watch for cheese moulding process Numcore Ltd

Curd Watch Simple solution for accurate cheese block formation

Without Curd Watch Different size curd grains unevenly distributed into cheese moulds

Unequal size

cheese blocks

Equal size

cheese blocks

With Curd Watch Different size curd grains evenly distributed into cheese moulds

Accurate cheese blocks are formed By homogenizing curd mass-flow

Curd mass-flow [kg/s] = The amount of curd in the pipe [kg/m] * Speed [m/s]

Screen data

Curd Watch uses a pipe sensor that is easily installed into a process pipe. Curd

Watch shows, how the whey (yellow) and the curd mass (red) flow through the pipe

and forms an index [kg/m] of the curd mass-flow.

Why Curd Watch benefits your business

• With Curd Watch:

• Decrease product loss up to 30 percent

• Due to:

• Production of equal weighted cheese

blocks

• Homogenization of the cheese mass

through the whole process

• This is done by:

• Accurately controlling the curd mass-flow

by adjusting the mixer and the pump

Test Curd Watch

• By using our trial service you can discover the benefits of

Curd Watch in your process - please contact us for an offer!

• We will provide:

• Rental of the pipe sensor

• 3 week trial period with measurement services and

suggestions for improvement

• The customer will provide:

• Location of the trial

• Cheese type and fat content of the cheese

• Size of the pipe (Pipe sensor is maximum 600 mm long)

• Installation of the pipe sensor with flanges

• Goals for the trial

Numcore Ltd Insight Into Solutions

• Develops and markets innovative high-tech process control

solutions based on tomography

• Founded in 2007

• Spin-off from Inverse Problems Group, University of Eastern

Finland

• Personnel consists of leading experts in various fields of process

industry, research and development

• Rapidly growing and expanding abroad

• Numcore is:

• The first prize winner of Venture Cup 2008

• ATIP 2010 innovation prize winner

• The first prize winner of Productive Idea 2011 competition

organized by JCI Finland

• A participant in the NIY -program by TEKES

Let us find a solution for you

Please contact:

Anssi Lehikoinen

CEO

+358 50 328 2648

anssi.lehikoinen@numcore.com

Find out more:

www.numcore.com

Pasi Laakkonen

CTO

+358 40 147 8797

pasi.laakkonen@numcore.com

Supporting slides Curd Watch Numcore Ltd

EIT – electrical impedance tomography Technology used in Curd Watch

1. Current feed and voltage measurement

2. Solving of inversion problem 3. Image reconstruction – 3D and trends

Elements of Curd Watch solution Pipe sensor, control unit, software

• The pipe sensor is installed into the process pipe and it collects the

measuring data by using its electrodes

• Control unit activates the sensor by pulsing, processes the measuring data

received from the pipe sensor and transfers the processed data to the

software

• Computer software performs the calculations and converts the information

into a visible form

Pipe sensor Mechanics

• Technical data:

• Pipe diameter: 5-500 mm

• Sensor length: 100-700 mm

• Temperature: Max 100 ºC / 212 ºF

• Tube material: Stainless steel

(AISI 316) + coating material

depending on process

• Electrode material: Stainless steel

(254SMO)

• Number of electrodes: 16-64

• IP Protection: IP65

• Collects the measuring data by

using its electrodes

Control unit Electronics

• Activates the pipe sensor

by pulsing and enables

processing of the

measuring data collected by

the pipe sensor

• Input and control board

combined

• Voltage measurement:

amplitude and phase – with

these it is possible to

calculate conductivity and

permittivity

• Technical data:

• AC power input: 100-240V ~ 50/60 Hz

• Power consumption: <200W

• Band: 10Hz-100Mhz

• Standard power supply: 1-10 mA (may

vary depending on the resistance)

Software Communication interface

• Performs the calculations and

tranforms the measuring data

into a visible form

• Consists of two elements:

1. Software for equipment

control

2. Software for analyzing

the measuring data

• Technical data:

• Ethernet connection: IEEE 802.3u

• Current output: 4..20 mA (passive)

• Other communication interfaces

available on request

Installation Made simple

• Pipe sensor is installed to the pipe with standard size flanges

• Curd Watch demands electrical feed supply 230V (10A), European

socket or directly wired to terminal