Non-contact moisture content analysis with hyperspectral imaging
The University of Antwerp has developed an efficient and accurate measurement procedure for determining the water content of powder materials in industrial processes.
Situation before
Moisture determination is often a critical component in production processes and quality assurance. Currently, the general approach for accurately measuring moisture content of material samples is the gravimetric method, in which a small amount of wet material sample is weighted and oven-dried until no further loss of mass is observed. This gravimetric method is accurate but time-consuming and destructive, making it impractical for industrial applications requiring continuous monitoring. Non-destructive methodologies, such as handheld sensors, are available but may introduce a higher error margin of up to 3% in estimating water content.
Developing more precise and efficient non-destructive techniques for real-time monitoring of material samples remains a challenge in industrial settings, for example determining the moisture content of clay brick powder or cement in the construction industry or powders in the pharmaceutical industry.
Technology
Our solution is based on the optical properties of materials in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelength region for precise water content determination using our novel spectral reflectance analysis method. Employing reflectance measurements via a hyperspectral camera or SWIR spectrometer and implementing our innovative spectral analysis technique enables the precise, non-destructive water content determination in materials with an expected error <1% (g/g × 100). This method offers a straightforward, accurate, and efficient means to assess water content, providing valuable insights without compromising sample integrity.
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The adaptability of our solution for implementation within a production setting renders it ideal for applications like monitoring raw materials on a conveyor belt. This enables seamless integration into industrial workflows, facilitating real-time monitoring of moisture content without disrupting operational processes, ultimately enhancing efficiency and quality control measures in manufacturing environments.
Partners we search for
- Partners to co-develop the innovation into an industrial demonstrator.
- Companies interested in determining the water content of their powder materials, e.g. pharmaceutical, chemical, biotech and agri-food industries or manufacturers of building materials.
About the researchers
The research domain of imec Vision Lab is digital image processing and pattern recognition in general. The long term research of Vision Lab aims at the development of advanced statistical techniques for the processing and analysis of imaging material. This includes model based statistical techniques and multi resolution techniques, with applications in image reconstruction, restoration, segmentation and classification. The research is validated in 3 domains of applications: biomedical and industrial imaging and remote sensing.
IP position
Patent application filed.
More information
University of Antwerp
Valorisation Office
Middelheimlaan 1
2020 Antwerp - Belgium