
A HISTORY OF
HK INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
- MICROWAVE TECHNOLOGY
- Introduction
In 1997, pro/M/tec, now d/b/a HK Instrument
Systems, USA, tested and began successful marketing of a revolutionary
microwave instrument system for measuring the °
Brix of a sucrose solution.
This advanced technology was designed to control
the process of crystallization by evaporation in a vacuum vessel. It was
designated as the "pMt 581 Microwave Instrument System". This is the process
that Sugar Producers use to make sugar.
By the end of 2004, there were over 1000 of our
systems installed worldwide. Most of these systems have been in the Sugar
Industry. However, many of the new applications have been in other industries
like Paper Production, Food Production and Mining.
On Jan 1, 2004, we purchased the assets of a
company called BSI Instruments. These assets were responsible for doubling the
sales of our company. We use the name of Gamma Instrument Services when
working with the product line and former customers of BSI Instruments.
We anticipate continued growth of over 25% a year
and believe strongly that the future for HK Instrument Systems is extremely
bright.
B) The Microwave System we Sell
The pMt 581 Microwave Instrument System consisted
of two components: the microprocessor-based microwave transmitter, with
onboard data acquisition features, and the microwave insertion sensor to
operate in vacuum pans, or pipelines of any diameter.
In this system, the microwave insertion sensors
are connected to the microwave transmitter via a set of coaxial microwave
cables. The instrument output signal is transmitted via a 4-20mA isolated
current signal.
The current designations for our Microwave
Instrument Systems are the "HK-1, HK-2, or HK-3". The HK series has advanced
the technology significantly from the pMt 581 series. The HK series has
improved electronics, reduced pricing, single piece configurations, and a
remote keypad option. It has proven itself in over a dozen additional
applications, from gypsum in water and liquid detergents in water to the
moisture of corn on a belt.
The HK series of instruments have been designed
to operate as contacting and non-contacting systems. There are systems which
operate on-line, at-line or off-line. Sensors or antennas come in three
groups:
- Insertion Sensor Pins (Contacting Systems used to measure the Moisture
Content or Concentration of a Liquid), or
- Non Insertion Antennae (Contacting Systems used to measure the Moisture
Content or Concentration of a Liquid), or
- Horn Antennae (Non-Contacting Systems used mostly for moisture in bulk
materials).
In order to facilitate remote calibration and
parameter adjustment, the microwave transmitter has a remote keypad option,
which can be installed up to 100 meters or more from the microwave insertion
sensor. This option also allows for only one keypad to operate multiple
systems remotely.
C) How does it work?
The HK microwave instrument system uses a
microwave signal to measure the water content or concentration of a liquid
solution, liquid suspension or the moisture in a bulk material. The instrument
generates an electromagnetic wave, which is coupled into the product with one
of the sensors. The propagation of the wave through the product depends on the
product’s dielectric properties. A second sensor receives this wave. Because
of the very high dielectric constant of water, the power level and phase shift
of the received wave are proportional almost exclusively to the water content
or concentration of the product.
The ratio of transmitted power to received power
of the microwave signal is called Attenuation. This signal is measured
in decibels (dB). When the microwave travels through a medium that is not a
vacuum, it slows down. The difference along the x-axis where the wave crosses
compared to a reference wave is the Phase Shift. This signal is
measured in degrees of phase shift (° )
By tracking the phase shift and the subsequent
loss of energy, the microwave system will measure the °
Brix or concentration of the product with precision.
The accuracy, reliability and repeatability of
this measurement have been proven in over 600 installations worldwide. The
system is installed in food plants, sugar plants, power plants, gypsum plants
and others.
The accuracy of the microwave measurement can be
as good as +/- .05% depending on the application. Reliability and ease of
maintenance is assured because the instrument has no moving parts to maintain.
Safety is assured, with no environmental hazards and no licensing,
governmental monitoring, or governmental regulatory requirements.
The HK instrument series and its predecessor the
pMt 581 have proven to be superior to nuclear density gages, radio frequency
probes and inline refractometers. This system will measure dissolved solids as
in a sugar solution or suspended solids as in gypsum and water or milk solids
and water.
HK Instrument Systems and their manufacturing
partner have met the challenge to develop a technology that is superior, safe,
clean, and "green". Our corporate commitment has been to create successful
technological innovations while maintaining competitive pricing, outstanding
value, and exceptional service.
HK Instrument Systems provide full warranty on
all systems. HK Instrument Systems offers professional engineering services
for initial installation, calibration and startup, with ongoing technical
support.
Microwave technology represents the wave of the
future for all types of producers both industrial and for food all over the
world. Superior design, superior solutions, superior performance. Microwave
technology makes for better process control. Microwave technology makes sense,
for the bottom line, for a green world. Microwave technology makes a
difference.
Near Infrared Technology
Introduction
In 2005 HK Instrument Systems and its manufacturing
partner introduced a new line of products based on
Near Infrared Technology. This product line has been designed to use
LED Diode Technology to measure product constituents on line.
Since its introduction, our Full Spectroscopy NIR
System has revolutionized the measurement of important product constituents,
like fat, moisture, and protein, On Line and in Real Time. It has successfully
measured the Fat Content of Ground Beef during grinding, cutting, and mixing.
The system has been proven to work in large vessels, small vessels and on a
belt.
In 2010, we have introduced our low cost NIR System
to measure moisture with LED lights. It has been designed to measure the
moisture of a product on a belt with automatic height compensation.