{"id":23133,"date":"2023-08-07T11:14:53","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T11:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hydronix.chilliservers.co.uk\/?p=23133"},"modified":"2025-09-15T15:08:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T15:08:29","slug":"higher-quality-and-more-valuable-feed-with-moisture-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hydronix.com\/pt-pt\/resources\/blogs\/higher-quality-and-more-valuable-feed-with-moisture-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Higher quality and more valuable feed with moisture control"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Knowing and controlling the moisture content of your materials from the introduction of the raw materials to the packaging of the final product is key to maximising efficiency, optimising yield and producing a high-quality, consistent product.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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Variation in the moisture content of the raw materials has historically presented a challenge to feed processors. The raw ingredients\u2019 moisture content varies depending on the prevailing environmental conditions during harvest, transportation, and storage. Traditional offline tests are time-consuming, subject to error and unrepresentative of the material flowing through the process.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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The perfect solution is to constantly measure the flowing materials\u2019 moisture content and correct moisture variations in real-time. In the past, such systems have been complicated to use and have required ongoing complex and expensive maintenance. Modern, sophisticated, reliable and affordable moisture sensors are now available that can simply and economically control the moisture content throughout the entire process.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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Figure 1: Online moisture sensors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The use of online moisture measurement sensors enables the control system to automatically react to changes and adjust the process to achieve a continuous and precise moisture level in the material, whether for storage<\/a>, further processing, or final packaging<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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Why should you measure moisture?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n \n\n
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Raw materials vary in moisture content, and this variation leads to weighing discrepancies<\/a>.<\/strong> The weight of usable material will vary dependent on the moisture content. An increase in moisture content means that there is less usable material. A reduction in moisture content gives more usable material for the given weight. Without compensation, this leads to different proportions of usable material being added to a formulation. This affects both the final yield and causes variation in the nutritional value.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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Accurate control of the moisture during the drying process<\/a> prevents under-drying and over-drying.<\/strong> Over-drying material uses excessive energy, reduces the yield, and can damage the material being dried (for example, becoming brittle if dried too quickly). Under-drying leads to potential mycotoxin growth and reduces the storage life of the material.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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The accuracy of the moisture measurement<\/a> system will affect the final moisture target of the dryer as the material being dried will need to be below a maximum allowed value. If you use a moisture sensor that can get as close as possible to the maximum value, you reduce the amount of extra drying needed, which reduces the energy being wasted.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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Although this is often regarded as a small reduction, reducing the distance from the target will lead to more significant savings in energy.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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Choosing to rely on a moisture sensor that can measure to a precision of +\/-0.5% instead of 1.0% seems a slight improvement. Still suppose you consider a process that is drying material from 20.0% to a maximum of 14.0%. In that case you can see from Figure 2 that the 0.5% improvement in the sensor precision yields a much more considerable 7.15% energy saving if the energy input is proportional to the moisture loss.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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Figure 2: Energy Savings from 0.5% improvement in target precision<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Where should you measure moisture?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n \n\n
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Moisture control throughout the process allows the production of higher quality, balanced and more valuable feed:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n