IPP 80-P – pharma probe
The IPP 80-P has been specially designed for use in processes within the pharmaceutical field. Wherever there are demanding requirements with regards to cleanliness, cleanability and hygiene, this is a valuable PAT tool for implementing modern production processes based on the Quality by Design (QbD) principle. It is designed as an intrinsically safe probe for use in processes with ATEX requirements.
The IPP 80-P provides additional hardware-based, and therefore continuous, monitoring of the laser illumination and the receiving optics with automatic signalling in the measurement software. This guarantees reliable operation at all times, both prior to use within a process and during an ongoing measuring operation.
When used in conjunction with a measuring PC, it allows for the determination of particle size distribution (e.g., Q0, Q3) as well as the attributes of the distribution (x10, x50, x90, etc.) even directly within processes in ATEX zones 0/20 (gas/dust).
It consists of a robust stainless steel-construction with sapphire windows to protect the optics from wear, and a probe housing also made of stainless steel.
Its dimensions, measuring ranges and accessories make it compatible with all other probe models, so all of the accessories for process adaptation can also be used with the IPP 80-P in ATEX areas.
Compressed-air-driven accessories, such as dispersers, ensure that the measuring volume and measurement optics are kept permanently free from contamination while also guaranteeing optimal adaptation to process and particle attributes. The probe is therefore also suitable for use in processes with damp and sticky particles. Using a disperser means that measurements can also be taken in processes with irregular particle movement, such as in fluidised beds, or processes with high particle loads, such as high-shear processes.
A complete measuring system consisting of the IPP 80-P with accessories for process adaptation, the barrier box for Ex-zone separation and a measuring PC with measuring program for particle searching and the calculation of all distributions. The measured results can then be made available to a higher-level control system via optional interfaces.
Technical details
| IPP 80-P inline particle-measuring probe | |
| Particle size measurement range: | 50 µm … 6000 µm |
| Particle velocity measurement range: | 0,01 m/s … 50 m/s |
| Particle volume concentration: | for particles <1 mm, up to approx. 12 vol.% for larger particles, up to approx. 30 vol.% |
| Measuring rate: | up to 20,000 particles/s |
| Products: | Powder, pellets, granulates, etc. |
| Process temperature/pressure: | –20°C to +100°C / <4 bar |
| Material, in contact with product: | stainless steel (L316), sapphire, epoxy resin |
| Probe tube dimensions (L/D): | 280×25 mm (optionally 380×25 mm) |
| Electronics-housing dimensions (W/H/D): | 90 x 60 mm |
| Electronics-housing temperature: | -10…60°C |
| Housing protection class: | IP65 |
| Light source: | Laser (laser class 1) |
| Power consumption: | 2W (typ.) |
| Interfaces: | Particle distributions and attributes as an ASCII file (Excel compatible), optional: 4–20 mA, TCP/IP, OPC |
Accessories
| Process interface | |
| D24 disperser | For high load / high fine content – particles up to 2000 µm, clearance 3.8 mm |
| D12 disperser | As for D24, but also for larger particles >2000 µm, clearance 7.5 mm |
| SZ11, SZ20 cleaning cells | With low load for cleaning the probe optics without diluting the flow of particles |
| Compressed-air unit | Compressed-air supply for the probe when using dispersers or cleaning cells |
| VS28 anti-wear guard | Tube sleeve with a reinforced hard-chrome coating with a hardness of 68–72 Rockwell |