Spice Moisture

Having the correct moisture levels in spice powders has become a critical component during processing. Spices can easily become either too wet or dry wasting manufacturer’s time and money.

Ideally a moisture control system should be able to accurately detect moisture in raw materials, preferably at different stages of the manufacturing process, be easy to maintain and tough enough to withstand the harsh, abrasive nature of the raw materials and the mixer environment.

With the help of industry partners and 40 years of knowledge, MoistTech has developed the IR3000 Moisture Sensor that is ideally suited to measure the moisture levels in the different stages of the spice manufacturing process.

Unlike other instrumentation of this type, some of the unique features of the IR3000 is that it can monitor the product even with small gaps in product flow and is unaffected by ambient light without impacting the accuracy. The sensor is insensitive to material variations such as particle size, material height & color, our moisture sensors provide continuous, reliable readings with zero maintenance and a one-time calibration with a non-drift optical design allowing operational personnel to confidently make immediate process adjustments based on real-time measurements.

By installing the sensor at the exit of the dryer, a manufacturer can continuously monitor the process and can control the moisture content either manually or automatically instantly.

If the sensor is susceptible to extreme heat conditions, it is necessary to cool the sensor with either air or water. Dust from the product is not normally a problem however in extreme dusty environments we recommend the installation of an air purge system to prevent the accumulation of material on the sensor’s window.

Typical accuracy is about ±0.1% moisture. Typical analog range is 0-10% moisture and up to as much as 40%, subject to application. The outputs can be adjusted to optimize PLC or recording requirements.